Is your Windows 10 PC taking its sweet time to respond? Fret not, as we unveil 17 ingenious ways to revamp its speed and restore the smoothness you’ve been longing for. Bid farewell to sluggishness and get ready to unlock the true potential of your PC!
Change Power Settings
To change power settings on your Windows 10 PC and potentially speed it up, follow these steps:
1. Open the Start menu and search for “Power & sleep settings.”
2. Click on the search result to open the Power & sleep settings page.
3. Adjust the settings under “Power & sleep” to meet your needs.
4. To further optimize power settings, click on “Additional power settings” on the right side of the page.
5. In the Power Options window, select a power plan that suits your requirements or click on “Change plan settings” to customize.
6. Adjust the settings for “Put the computer to sleep” and “Turn off the display” as desired.
7. Click on “Change advanced power settings” for more options.
8. In the Power Options dialog box, you can fine-tune settings like processor power management, display brightness, and more.
9. Apply the changes and close the windows.
By adjusting power settings, you can optimize your PC’s performance and potentially resolve any sudden slowdowns or lagging issues.
Disable Startup Programs
To disable startup programs and improve the speed of your Windows 10 PC, follow these steps:
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the “Startup” tab.
3. Right-click on the programs you don’t need to launch at startup.
4. Select “Disable” from the context menu.
5. Repeat for all unnecessary startup programs.
6. Restart your computer to apply the changes.
Disabling startup programs can significantly reduce the time it takes for your PC to boot up and improve overall performance.
Go to a Previous Restore Point
To go back to a previous restore point on your Windows 10 PC, follow these steps:
1. Open the Start menu and search for “System Restore.”
2. Click on “Create a restore point” from the search results.
3. In the System Properties window, click on “System Restore.”
4. Select “Choose a different restore point” and click “Next.”
5. Choose a suitable restore point from the list and click “Next.”
6. Review the details and click “Finish” to start the restoration process.
7. Your PC will restart and revert back to the selected restore point.
By using System Restore, you can potentially resolve sudden slow performance or fix any issues that may be causing your Windows 10 PC to run slow.
powershell
# Get processes with high CPU usage
$threshold = 50 # Define the CPU usage threshold (percentage)
$processes = Get-Process | Where-Object { $_.CPU -gt ($threshold/100 * (Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_ComputerSystem | Select-Object -ExpandProperty NumberOfLogicalProcessors)) }
if ($processes) {
Write-Host "Processes with high CPU usage:"
foreach ($process in $processes) {
Write-Host " $($process.ProcessName) - CPU Usage: $($process.CPU) %"
}
}
else {
Write-Host "No processes with high CPU usage found."
}
Use ReadyBoost for Disk Caching
1. Insert your USB flash drive or SD card into your computer.
2. Open File Explorer and right-click on the drive.
3. Select “Properties” and go to the “ReadyBoost” tab.
4. Check the box that says “Use this device” and adjust the amount of space you want to allocate for caching.
5. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
By utilizing ReadyBoost, you can enhance your PC’s speed and reduce lagging or slowdown issues.
Disable Windows Tips and Tricks
To disable Windows Tips and Tricks, follow these steps:
1. Open the Start menu and click on the Settings icon.
2. In the Settings window, select “System.”
3. Click on “Notifications & actions” in the left sidebar.
4. Scroll down and locate the “Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows” option.
5. Toggle the switch to off position to disable the feature.
Disabling Windows Tips and Tricks can help improve the performance of your Windows 10 PC by reducing unnecessary background processes. This can be particularly beneficial if you have a slow laptop or are experiencing sudden slow performance.
Stop OneDrive Syncing
To stop OneDrive syncing and improve the speed of your Windows 10 PC, follow these steps:
1. Open the OneDrive settings by right-clicking on the OneDrive icon in the system tray and selecting “Settings.”
2. In the Settings tab, click on the “Choose folders” button.
3. Uncheck the folders you don’t want to sync to your PC.
4. Click “OK” and then “OK” again to save the changes.
By disabling unnecessary syncing, you can free up system resources and enhance your PC’s performance.
Use OneDrive Files on-Demand
OneDrive Files on-Demand can help speed up your slow Windows 10 PC. By using this feature, you can access your files without having to download them, freeing up valuable space on your hard drive. To enable OneDrive Files on-Demand, follow these steps:
1. Open File Explorer.
2. Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the left sidebar.
3. Select “Settings” from the menu.
4. Under the “Files On-Demand” section, check the box that says “Save space and download files as you use them.”
5. Click “OK” to save the changes.
With OneDrive Files on-Demand, you can still access all your files, but they won’t take up unnecessary space on your PC. This can help improve the overall performance and speed of your Windows 10 PC.
Turn off Search Indexing
To turn off Search Indexing and improve your Windows 10 PC’s performance, follow these steps:
1. Open the Start menu and type “Indexing Options” to open the Indexing Options settings.
2. In the Indexing Options window, click on “Modify” to change the Indexed Locations.
3. Uncheck the boxes next to the locations you don’t want to include in the search index.
4. Click on “OK” to save the changes.
5. Additionally, you can disable the Windows Search service to further reduce system resource usage. Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, click on the “Services” tab, select “Windows Search,” and click on “Stop” to disable it temporarily.
By turning off Search Indexing, you can speed up your HP laptop or any Windows 10 PC that is experiencing sudden slow performance.
Clean Out Hard Disk
To clean out your hard disk and improve the performance of your Windows 10 PC, follow these steps:
1. Delete unnecessary files and programs to free up disk space.
2. Use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool to remove temporary files and clean up system files.
3. Uninstall any unused or unnecessary applications.
4. Disable startup programs that may be slowing down your PC.
5. Use the Storage Sense feature to automatically free up space.
6. Consider transferring files to an external storage device or cloud storage.
7. Run a disk defragmentation to optimize file placement on the hard disk.
8. Check for and install any available Windows updates to ensure your PC is running the latest software.
9. Disable unnecessary visual effects to improve performance.
10. Adjust power settings to prioritize performance over power saving.
11. Scan your PC for malware and remove any threats.
12. Close unnecessary background applications and processes.
13. Increase virtual memory allocation for better performance.
14. Disable unnecessary system services.
15. Update device drivers to ensure compatibility and performance.
16. Disable unnecessary scheduled tasks.
17. Consider upgrading your hardware if your PC still runs slow despite these optimizations.
Clean Out Registry
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Backup your registry. Go to File and select Export.
4. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
5. Delete any unnecessary keys or values (backup before deleting).
6. Repeat for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run if applicable.
7. Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC for changes to take effect.
Cleaning the registry can help resolve slow performance on your Windows 10 PC.
Disable Visual Effects and Transparency
To improve the performance of your Windows 10 PC, consider disabling visual effects and transparency. These features can consume system resources and slow down your laptop. To do this, right-click on the Start button and select “System. ” Then, click on “Advanced system settings” and go to the “Performance” section. Click on “Settings” and choose the “Adjust for best performance” option.
Additionally, you can disable transparency by going to “Settings” > “Personalization” > “Colors” and turning off the “Transparency effects” toggle. These steps will help optimize your PC’s speed and enhance its overall performance.
Defragment and Optimize Drives
To defragment and optimize drives on your Windows 10 PC, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key and type “Defragment and Optimize Drives” in the search bar.
2. Open the Defragment and Optimize Drives app.
3. Select the drive you want to optimize. Typically, it’s the C: drive.
4. Click on the “Optimize” button.
5. Wait for the optimization process to complete. This can take some time.
6. Repeat these steps for other drives if necessary.
Regularly optimizing your drives can help improve the overall performance of your laptop, especially if it’s been running slow lately. Additionally, keeping your Windows up to date with the latest updates can also help resolve performance issues.
Optimize Power for Performance
To optimize power for performance on your Windows 10 PC, follow these steps:
1. Adjust Power Settings: Go to Control Panel > Power Options and select the “High Performance” plan.
2. Disable Startup Programs: Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and disable unnecessary startup programs.
3. Clean Up Disk Space: Use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool to remove temporary files and free up space.
4. Disable Visual Effects: Right-click on the Start button > System > Advanced system settings > Performance Settings. Choose “Adjust for best performance” or manually disable specific effects.
5. Uninstall Unnecessary Software: Open Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program and remove any unused software.
6. Optimize Windows Search: Go to Settings > Search > Searching Windows. Disable “Find my files” and “Show most used apps”.
7. Update Drivers: Visit your laptop manufacturer’s website (e.g., HP) and download the latest drivers for your specific model.
8. Check for Malware: Run a full system scan using Windows Defender or a reputable antivirus software.
9. Disable Background Apps: Open Settings > Privacy > Background apps. Toggle off unnecessary apps.
10. Manage Virtual Memory: Right-click on This PC > Properties > Advanced system settings > Performance Settings > Advanced tab > Change. Uncheck “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives” and set a custom size.
11. Disable Windows Tips: Go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions. Toggle off “Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows”.
12. Disable Windows Update Delivery Optimization: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Delivery Optimization. Toggle off “Allow downloads from other PCs”.
13. Scan for Disk Errors: Open Command Prompt as administrator and type “chkdsk /f /r” to scan and repair any disk errors.
14. Disable OneDrive Sync: Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the system tray > Settings > Account tab. Uncheck “Start OneDrive automatically”.
15. Adjust Visual Effects: Right-click on the Start button > System > Advanced system settings > Performance Settings. Click on “Visual Effects” tab and choose “Custom”. Disable unnecessary effects.
16. Enable Fast Startup: Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do. Check “Turn on fast startup”.
17. Upgrade Hardware: If all else fails, consider upgrading your hardware components (e.g., RAM, SSD) to improve performance.
By implementing these steps, you can enhance the speed and overall performance of your Windows 10 PC.
Update Windows 10 to the Latest Version
To improve the performance of your Windows 10 PC, updating to the latest version is crucial. Regularly check for Windows updates to ensure you have the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches. These updates optimize system performance and enhance overall speed. By clicking on the Start button, selecting Settings, and then Update & Security, you can easily check for updates. It’s also recommended to enable automatic updates for a hassle-free experience.
Scan for Malware
To scan for malware on your Windows 10 PC, follow these steps:
1. Open the Windows Security app by searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Click on “Virus & threat protection.”
3. Select “Quick scan” to scan your PC for malware quickly.
4. If any threats are detected, click on “Clean threats” to remove them.
5. For a more thorough scan, choose “Full scan” instead.
6. Ensure your Windows 10 PC stays protected by regularly updating Windows.
7. Additionally, consider installing reliable antivirus software for added security.
By scanning for malware, you can identify and eliminate potential threats that may be causing your PC to run slow.
Reboot Your Computer
To reboot your computer and potentially improve its performance, follow these steps:
1. Click on the Start button in the bottom left corner.
2. Select the Power icon, then click on Restart.
3. Wait for your computer to shut down and start up again.
4. Once it’s restarted, check if the slow performance issue persists.
Rebooting can help resolve temporary glitches that may be causing your Windows 10 PC to run slowly. If the problem persists, consider trying other methods to speed up your laptop, such as optimizing startup programs, cleaning up disk space, or updating device drivers.
Close Background Programs
To close background programs and boost your Windows 10 PC’s speed, follow these steps:
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. In the Processes tab, look for any unnecessary programs running in the background.
3. Right-click on the program and select End Task to close it.
4. Repeat this for all unnecessary programs.
5. To prevent them from starting automatically, go to the Startup tab in the Task Manager.
6. Right-click on any unwanted program and select Disable.
7. Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Closing background programs can significantly improve your laptop’s performance, especially if it suddenly slowed down.
Delete Temporary Files
To delete temporary files and improve the speed of your Windows 10 PC, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “%temp%” (without quotes) and press Enter.
3. Select all files and folders in the Temp folder that appears.
4. Press Shift + Delete to permanently delete them.
5. Next, open the Run dialog box again by pressing Windows key + R.
6. Type “temp” (without quotes) and press Enter.
7. Again, select all files and folders in the Temp folder and delete them.
8. Finally, open the Run dialog box once more and type “prefetch” (without quotes).
9. Delete all files and folders in the Prefetch folder.
10. Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Deleting temporary files helps free up space and can improve the performance of your Windows 10 PC.
Free up Disk Space
Freeing up disk space can help improve the speed of your Windows 10 PC. Here are some ways to do it:
1. Clean up temporary files: Use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool to remove unnecessary files.
2. Uninstall unwanted programs: Go to Settings > Apps to remove any unnecessary software.
3. Disable startup programs: Open Task Manager and disable programs that launch at startup.
4. Remove unused files: Use File Explorer to delete files you no longer need.
5. Optimize storage: Enable Storage Sense to automatically clean up unused files.
6. Disable hibernation: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type “powercfg /hibernate off.”
7. Clear browser cache: In your browser settings, clear the cache and browsing history.
8. Compress files: Right-click on a file or folder and select “Properties,” then enable file compression.
9. Move files to external storage: Transfer large files to an external hard drive or cloud storage.
10. Disable visual effects: Right-click on This PC, go to Properties > Advanced System Settings > Settings, and choose “Adjust for best performance.”
11. Check for malware: Run a full scan with Windows Security or a reliable antivirus program.
12. Update your drivers: Visit the manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest drivers.
13. Check for Windows updates: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install any available updates.
14. Upgrade hardware: Consider adding more RAM or replacing your hard drive with a solid-state drive (SSD).
15. Disable unnecessary services: Use the Services tool to disable services that you don’t need.
16. Reduce visual effects: In Performance Options, choose “Adjust for best performance” or customize specific settings.
17. Reset your PC: As a last resort, you can reset your PC to its factory settings, but remember to back up your files first.
Erase Computer and Start Over
If your Windows 10 PC is running slow, one effective solution is to erase your computer and start over. This can help remove any unnecessary files or programs that may be causing the slowdown. Here’s how to do it:
1. Backup your important files and documents.
2. Go to Settings and select Update & Security.
3. Choose Recovery from the left menu.
4. Click on Reset this PC.
5. Select Remove everything and follow the on-screen instructions.
