Best Ways to Optimize Windows 10: Make sure your current PC operates as optimally as possible before spending a dime on a new, more powerful Windows-based machine.
You may improve the performance of your current setup in a number of ways, from making simple hardware changes to customizing Windows to performing routine maintenance on your System at regular intervals. Here’s how to maximize PC performance without spending the least amount of money.
Top 10 Best Ways to Optimize Windows 10
1. Restart Your PC
The phrase “turn it off, then turn it back on again” could seem like an old joke. But there is truth to this, which is why it has been said so frequently. Your PC’s memory fills up over time with a tonne of digital junk, including spyware and poorly made software that doesn’t clean the memory they consume. You can temporarily remove some of this by restarting your computer. It is one of the Best Ways to Optimize Windows 10.
2. Add RAM
Updates to hardware components need more effort than merely pressing a few buttons, but they can produce the best outcomes. Increasing the Random Access Memory on your computer is among the simplest (RAM). Your computer can process more data simultaneously, including running programs and working with files, the more RAM it has. Therefore, if you have the money, purchasing and installing more RAM can significantly improve your performance. It is one of the Best Ways to Optimize Windows 10.
3. Upgrade to an SSD
Some older computers may still have mechanical hard drives, but they will only get slower as they get older and will never be as fast as SSDs. These drives have magnetic platters that must be read and written to by a reader that moves across them, much like a record needle. Modern Solid State Drives (SSDs) store data in electronic-accessible cells, in contrast.
4. Disable Start-up Programs
Some installed programs that are running when your computer starts up could be one reason why it gradually begins to lag. Even though they remain hidden in the system tray and never displayed, they nonetheless consume RAM and computing power. You may free up resources for other apps by making sure you’re only running the programs you use. Toggle the Off status for any applications you don’t use frequently using the toggles on the Settings > Apps > Startup screen. It is not a problem if you discover that you are unable to access them because you can always go back and reconfigure them so that they start automatically again.
5. Adjust Power Profile
You might believe that a feature referred to as “Power Profile” is only required for laptops that run on batteries. The amount of data that your computer travels from the processor to the RAM to the storage or network and back depends on how much “power” it has. And the more energy it uses to achieve this, the faster it does it. If you have a laptop, you can use the battery indicator in the system tray to access a slider that allows you to control the amount of power that the device uses.
6. Update Software & Drivers
Maintaining your PC’s updates is crucial because they often provide improvements to its functionality, security, and performance. It is one of the Best Ways to Optimize Windows 10.
7. Run an Antivirus Scan
Malicious software can make your computer perform slower since it’s either set up to use your resources for evil purposes or just to make your life difficult. Running your antivirus program frequently can ensure that these malicious actors are eliminated, and your computer operates at peak performance.
8. Disable Windows Visual Effects
Rendering graphics is one of the jobs that take up the most computing power on a computer. Using Windows Visual Effects can reduce overall performance if your computer doesn’t have specialized graphics hardware. By accessing the Settings app, choosing System> About, and then clicking on the Advanced system settings link on the right, you can change these settings. In the System Properties box, choose the Advanced tab, and then click the Settings button located under the Performance heading. You have the option to adjust for the best performance here (note how it turns all effects off).
9. Increase the Size of the Page File
The operating system stores temporary data, which is normally kept in RAM, in the Windows Page File. Depending on which program or service is now the most “processing-intensive,” Windows will “pag” data between this file and the RAM. By giving Windows additional room to store this temporary data, increasing the size can enhance stability and reduce crash occurrences. Click Settings under Performance in the System Properties menu, then select the Advanced tab. Make your settings in the Virtual Memory dialogue by clicking the Change button under Virtual Memory.
10. Defragment Your (Older) Hard Drive
Windows frequently won’t keep all of your data in the same position when it saves it to older mechanical discs. Instead, it fragments the data throughout the disc and then reassembles it as necessary. Therefore, gaps in the disc are produced over time when files are saved and deleted. As time goes on, the reader will have to walk more and farther to collect everything needed to restore files. All of this data is compressed during disc defragmentation, which speeds up disc reads and writes. Better performance for your PC results from all of this. To begin, open the Storage page in the Settings app and select the Optimize Drives link.
FAQ
How can I make my PC’s downloads faster?
Windows download issues are typically caused by slow networks. Moving closer to the router, using a cable connection, or resetting your network hardware are all options you can try. Additionally, make sure that nothing is utilizing bandwidth, such as streaming services or online games.
How can Windows 10 on a laptop be made faster?
The aforementioned pieces of advice ought to be useful for you whether you are working on a desktop or a laptop computer. The primary distinction is that your laptop might have two power profiles: one for when it’s plugged in and one for when it’s operating on battery power. In general, a laptop performs better while it is plugged in because Windows doesn’t have to make any adjustments to reduce consumption and prolong battery life.