How to Speed up Windows 10 (Effective Methods) 2024

Windows 10 is a powerful operating system that offers a wide range of features and functionalities. However, as you continue to use your computer, you may notice that it starts to slow down over time. This can be frustrating, especially when you have important work to do or you simply want to browse the internet without any lag. In this article, I will share with you some effective methods to speed up Windows 10 and optimize its performance.

Disable Startup Programs

One of the reasons why your Windows 10 may be running slow is because there are too many programs starting up when you turn on your computer. These startup programs consume valuable system resources and can significantly slow down your PC. To disable startup programs, follow these steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Click on the “Startup” tab.
3. Select the program you want to disable and click on “Disable”.

By disabling unnecessary startup programs, you can free up system resources and improve the boot time of your computer.

Disable Background Apps

Windows 10 allows apps to run in the background, even when you are not using them. While this feature can be useful for some apps, it can also slow down your computer. To disable background apps, follow these steps:

1. Go to “Settings” by clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear icon.
2. Click on “Privacy”.
3. Scroll down and click on “Background apps”.
4. Toggle off the switch for the apps you want to disable.

By disabling background apps, you can reduce the amount of system resources used by these apps and improve the overall performance of your computer.

Block Apps After Reboot

Another effective method to speed up Windows 10 is to block apps from restarting after a reboot. This can be particularly useful for apps that you rarely use or don’t need to run in the background. To block apps from restarting after a reboot, follow these steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Click on the “Startup” tab.
3. Right-click on the app you want to block and select “Disable”.

By blocking apps from restarting after a reboot, you can prevent them from consuming system resources and improve the overall performance of your computer.

Disable Cortana

Cortana is a digital assistant that comes with Windows 10. While it can be helpful in performing tasks and answering questions, it can also consume system resources and slow down your computer. To disable Cortana, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start menu and type “Cortana”.
2. Click on “Cortana & Search settings”.
3. Toggle off the switch for “Cortana can give you suggestions, ideas, reminders, alerts, and more”.

By disabling Cortana, you can free up system resources and improve the performance of your computer.

Remove Junk Files

Over time, your computer accumulates junk files that take up valuable storage space and can slow down your system. To remove junk files, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “cleanmgr” and press Enter.
3. Select the drive you want to clean up and click on “OK”.
4. Check the boxes for the file types you want to delete and click on “OK”.

By removing junk files, you can free up storage space and improve the performance of your computer.

Adjust Visual Effects

Windows 10 comes with a variety of visual effects that enhance the user experience. However, these visual effects can also consume system resources and slow down your computer. To adjust visual effects, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select “System”.
2. Click on “Advanced system settings”.
3. Click on the “Settings” button under the “Performance” section.
4. Select “Adjust for best performance” or manually choose the visual effects you want to disable.

By adjusting visual effects, you can free up system resources and improve the performance of your computer.

Use GPU for Intensive Programs

If you use intensive programs such as video editing software or games, you can offload some of the processing power to your GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). This can help improve the performance of these programs and reduce the load on your CPU (Central Processing Unit). To use GPU for intensive programs, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the desktop and select “Graphics Options” or “Graphics Properties”.
2. Select “High-performance NVIDIA processor” or “High-performance AMD processor” from the list.

By using your GPU for intensive programs, you can improve their performance and reduce the strain on your CPU.

Disable Game Mode

Game Mode is a feature in Windows 10 that optimizes your computer for gaming. While this feature can enhance the gaming experience, it can also consume system resources and slow down your computer when not gaming. To disable Game Mode, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click on “Gaming”.
3. Select “Game Mode” from the left sidebar.
4. Toggle off the switch for “Use Game Mode”.

By disabling Game Mode, you can free up system resources and improve the overall performance of your computer.

Uninstall Multiple Antivirus Programs

Having multiple antivirus programs installed on your computer can cause conflicts and slow down your system. It is recommended to have only one reliable antivirus program installed. To uninstall multiple antivirus programs, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click on “Apps”.
3. Select the antivirus program you want to uninstall and click on “Uninstall”.

By uninstalling multiple antivirus programs, you can prevent conflicts and improve the performance of your computer.

Speed Up Windows 10 by Managing Windows Settings

In addition to the methods mentioned above, there are several other Windows settings that you can manage to speed up your computer:

Change Power Plan

Windows 10 offers different power plans that determine how your computer uses power. By changing the power plan to a performance-oriented one, you can optimize your computer for speed. To change the power plan, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start menu and select “Settings”.
2. Click on “System”.
3. Click on “Power & sleep” from the left sidebar.
4. Click on “Additional power settings”.
5. Select the power plan you want to use.

By changing the power plan, you can optimize your computer for performance and improve its speed.

Disable Delivery Optimization

Delivery Optimization is a feature in Windows 10 that allows your computer to download updates and apps from other computers on your local network or the internet. While this feature can be helpful in reducing bandwidth usage, it can also slow down your computer. To disable Delivery Optimization, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start menu and select “Settings”.
2. Click on “Update & Security”.
3. Click on “Advanced options”.
4. Click on “Delivery Optimization”.
5. Toggle off the switch for “Allow downloads from other PCs”.

By disabling Delivery Optimization, you can improve the speed of your computer.

Change Privacy Settings

Windows 10 collects a lot of data about your usage and behavior to personalize your experience. While this can be useful, it can also slow down your computer. By changing your privacy settings, you can reduce the amount of data collected and improve the performance of your computer. To change your privacy settings, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start menu and select “Settings”.
2. Click on “Privacy”.
3. Go through each category and toggle off the switches for the data you don’t want to share.

By changing your privacy settings, you can improve the performance and speed of your computer.

Disable Windows Update

Windows Update is an essential feature that keeps your computer up to date with the latest security patches and bug fixes. However, it can also consume system resources and slow down your computer, especially during the update process. To disable Windows Update, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “services.msc” and press Enter.
3. Scroll down and double-click on “Windows Update”.
4. In the “Startup type” dropdown, select “Disabled”.
5. Click on “Apply” and then “OK”.

By disabling Windows Update, you can free up system resources and improve the performance of your computer. However, make sure to manually check for updates regularly to ensure your computer stays secure.

Disable Indexing on Older Windows 10 PCs

Indexing is a feature in Windows 10 that allows for faster searching of files on your computer. However, on older PCs with slower hardware, indexing can consume valuable system resources and slow down your computer. To disable indexing, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “services.msc” and press Enter.
3. Scroll down and double-click on “Windows Search”.
4. In the “Startup type” dropdown, select “Disabled”.
5. Click on “Apply” and then “OK”.

By disabling indexing, you can improve the performance and speed of your computer, especially on older PCs.

Debloat Windows 10

Windows 10 comes with a lot of pre-installed apps and features that you may not need or use. These apps and features can consume system resources and slow down your computer. By debloating Windows 10, you can remove unnecessary apps and features and improve the performance of your computer. To debloat Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click on “Apps”.
3. Go through the list of apps and features and uninstall the ones you don’t need or use.

By debloating Windows 10, you can free up system resources and improve the performance of your computer.

Keep a Check on Background Processes

Windows 10 runs a lot of background processes that consume system resources and can slow down your computer. It is important to keep a check on these background processes and disable any unnecessary ones. To check and disable background processes, follow these steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Click on the “Processes” tab.
3. Right-click on the process you want to disable and select “End Task”.

By keeping a check on background processes, you can free up system resources and improve the performance of your computer.

Use an Efficient Browser

Your choice of browser can also have an impact on the speed of your computer. Some browsers are more efficient and optimized than others, which can result in faster web browsing. Consider switching to a more efficient browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox to improve the speed of your computer.

Switch to an SSD

If you are still using a traditional hard drive, consider upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD). SSDs are significantly faster than traditional hard drives and can greatly improve the speed and performance of your computer. While upgrading to an SSD may require some investment, the performance benefits are well worth it.