15 Tips and tricks to increase performance on Windows 10 PC

15 Tips and tricks to increase performance on Windows 10

Windows 10 not only includes new features but also works quicker than previous counterparts. However, you can improve the functioning of Windows 10 by optimizing performance. Learn how to make your Windows 10 PC run faster with our tips.

Even though Windows 10 works faster on modern hardware, the overall performance will decrease upon continuous usage. There can be several reasons, such as compatibility issues, bugs, viruses, malware, spyware, and other related hardware problems. You need not have to replace the device just because it runs slower. If you tweak the software and hardware components included with the system, you can work with your device without interruption. In this article, we will examine 15 ways by which you can optimize and enhance the performance of your computer.

1. Restart the device

The first step to solve the PC performance on Windows 10 is to shut down and restart. The system will automatically close all running instances of applications and processes upon shut down. The data stored in the memory will be cleared, which is crucial for solving performance issues. You can shut down the PC by navigating to Start | Power | Shut down. It is to be noted that the Sleep or Hibernate options will not reset the system session or clear the data in the cache memory. It would help if you waited until the system shuts down entirely and then restart after 10 minutes. The performance should improve after Windows 10 restarts ultimately. 

 

2. Disable startup apps

You install several applications daily. However, many apps are designed to activate automatically during Startup and they continue to run in the background. This will result in considerable system resource consumption, which will slow down the system. It would be best if you disabled unwanted applications running at Startup to speed up the performance of Windows 10. You can disable startup apps on Windows 10 by navigating to Settings | Apps | Startup and selecting Sort by dropdown. Your device should run faster after a restart.

3. Disable apps relaunch on Startup

You can disable apps relaunch on Startup to boost performance. Windows 10 ships with a functionality that can restart the apps from the last session after a reboot. Even though this feature is useful, it could impact system performance. You can disable apps relaunch by navigating to Settings | Accounts | Sign-in. You should turn off the toggle switch located under the Restart apps. The apps will not reopen during the next restart after the completion of this step.

4. Disable background apps

You can disable background apps to enhance the performance of your Windows 10 PC. You should note that certain apps continue to run tasks in the background even after closing them. To disable background apps on Windows 10, you should navigate to Settings | Privacy | Background apps. You should turn off the toggle switch for the apps you want to stop running in the background. The system will not consume high system resources if you disable background apps. However, this option is available only for Microsoft Store apps.

5. Uninstall apps

You can improve the PC performance on Windows 10 by uninstalling apps that are not required. You will find plenty of apps that you will never use with the new PC. This includes bloatware and system tools, which consume plenty of disk space and resources. To uninstall unwanted apps on Windows 10, you should navigate to Settings | Apps | Apps & feature and select the app that you want to remove. You can remove the app by selecting Uninstall button and following the on-screen instructions. You can also make use of advanced third-party uninstallation tools, which completely removes all traces of the relevant app.

6. Install quality apps only

You should make sure to install only high-quality apps. It's advisable to remove old apps that can indirectly affect the performance of the system. You should install only good apps if you want to keep your device in a good healthy condition. The apps available on Microsoft Store can be trusted. You can also install apps provided by leading companies and are available on their official product page since it's impossible to isolate all third-party apps. If you search with the app name, you will find relevant information regarding its safety.

7. Clean up hard drive space

Gone are days where we used to clean up hard disks once in each week to get rid of unused files. Even though you need not perform regular cleaning now because of 1TB default space, it's essential to eliminate unwanted files from your system. It would help clean up hard drive space in both HDD and SSD for a smooth performance. You should monitor the hard drive space regularly and perform the required management. If the files are consuming disk space, you can copy them to a portable hard drive and delete them from your computer for maximum performance. You can free up hard drive space by navigating to Settings | System | Storage. You should click the Temporary files option located under the Local Disk section. The next step is to check the files you would like to delete to reclaim space, improving system performance.

8. Disk Defragmentation

Windows ships with a helpful utility named Disk Defragmenter. If you have an old PC with a traditional rotating platters hard drive, you need to perform disk defragmentation once every month. You can run the defragmentation utility by navigating to Settings | System | Storage. You should select Optimize Drives options located under the More storage settings section. The tool organizes clusters and data effectively so that users can access them more quickly the next time. The process takes plenty of time in the case of older PCs. Moreover, the system tends to run slow during the defragmentation process but is valuable for enhancing the PC's performance.

9. ReadyBoost Configuration

Windows ReadyBoost works by caching files, which ultimately enhances the performance of the system. The ReadyBoost tool is available only on hard drives and not in SSD. You require a USB flash drive to enable ReadyBoost on Windows 10. You need to click on the relevant drive name under the Devices and drives section and select the Properties option.

10. Perform a malware scan

Malware can adversely impact the overall performance of the system. If the PC runs slow, then it could be a sign of malware or spyware infection. Moreover, viruses, spyware, and malware occupy substantial system resources. Windows 10 ships with Windows Defender, but it's advisable to use the full-blown antivirus software tool, thoroughly scanning the PC for all possible malware. However, Microsoft Defender is capable of detecting and removal of malware that could adversely impact the performance.

11. Install the latest update

Microsoft regularly pushes updates and patches to resolve problems. Moreover, the updates bring in new features and address security vulnerabilities. You should install updates that are crucial to the proper functioning of the system. Typically, Windows updates are installed downloaded and installed automatically in the background. However, it depends on how the update is configured on the relevant device. You can join Windows Insider Program to receive the latest updates regularly.

12. Switch to high performance power plan

Windows 10 provides three types of plans such as Balanced, Power Saver and High performance. The High Performance option should be used to boost the system performance because it enables the device to use extra power to operate faster. You should create a custom power plan to enhance performance with the help of the High-Performance settings if the power plan is not available. You can also modify the Power Mode to enhance performance either by tapping or clicking the battery icon in the Taskbar notification area. You should then select the Best Performance option with the help of the slider.

13. Disable system visual effects

Windows 10 includes several visual effects such as blur, transparency, reveal highlight, Fluent Design language elements, including advanced visual effects and animations. These visual effects require system resources, which will slow down computers with older configurations. You can disable the visual effects to save valuable resources by navigating to Settings | System | About. You should select Advanced system setting options located under the Related settings section.

14. Disable search indexing

The Windows 10 Search enables you to locate apps, settings and files. However, the search indexing process consumes system resources on older devices. The overall time required to complete the indexing process can be reduced by excluding all search locations. To configure search indexer on Windows 10, you need to navigate to Settings | Search | Search Windows. The next step is to click on the Advanced Search Indexer Settings option located under the More Search Indexer Settings.

Even though Windows Search will continue to work on your PC, Windows 10 no longer index the specified locations, which should improve the overall system performance.

15. Increase page file size

Windows 10 includes page file, which is a hidden file on the hard drive that serves as a memory. The performance of the system can be improved by increasing the size of the paging file. To modify the page file, navigate to Settings | System | About. You should then click the Advanced system settings option located under the Related settings section. The device should be restarted to experience the performance boost. You cancan revert to the previous state if the change causes no impact on the performance.

Conclusion

If you work with Windows 10 PC, you will notice slow performance upon prolonged usage. However, you can use various techniques described above to improve the overall performance of the PC. You have to dedicate one day to eliminate unwanted files, including performing standard cleanup and defragmentation process. If your system is older, you will have to upgrade by adding additional memory and a higher capacity hard drive as per the changing requirements.