Laptop Optimization Techniques: Boosting Speed and Productivity

Is your PC acting sluggishly? If so, use these suggestions to help speed up Windows 10.

Restart computer

Shutting down and restarting your computer is one of the first things you can do to speed up the system. When the device restarts, the computer typically ends the programs and processes. The data stored in Memory is also purged, which aids in resolving everyday performance and stability difficulties caused by keeping the operating system running for an extended period.

To speed up Windows 10, close and restart your computer as follows:

1. Open Start.
2. Click the Power button.
3. Select the shutdown option. 

Quick tip: The “Sleep” or “Hibernate” choices do not reset the system or clear the data in Memory.

 Press the power button to turn on the computer.

Once you finish the procedures, Windows 10 will restart, and the performance should be substantially better this time.

Disable startup apps

Many programs on Windows 10 might register to start automatically upon startup and continue to operate in the background, squandering system resources and slowing down the experience.

When attempting to speed up Windows 10, it is advised that you disable all programs that launch at startup, or at least those that you do not use daily.

To speed up the system by disabling programs at startup on Windows 10, follow these given steps:

1. Click on the Settings option.
2. Open Apps Option.
3. Press on Startup.
4. Click the Sort by menu option and select the Startup Impact option.
5. Turn off the toggle option for any unnecessary app. 
6. Restart your computer.

When you complete the instructions, your computer should start faster than before. Of course, the boost in performance may vary based on the programs you disable and your hardware specifications.

Disable apps relaunch on startup

After a reboot, Windows 10 resumes the programs from your last session, even before you log in. Although this valuable tool allows you to continue where you left off quickly, it can impact system performance.

If the feature to restart apps at startup is active, follow these steps to turn it off:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Click on the Sign-in option.
4. Below the “Restart apps” Option, turn off the toggle switch.

After you complete the procedures, the desktop programs will not reopen after the next Restart, improving overall system efficiency.

Disable background apps

Some programs in Windows 10 might continue to conduct activities in the background even while you are not using them. If you want to maximize the performance of your computer, choose which programs can run in the background or stop the capability to prevent all apps.

To speed up Windows 10, apply the following techniques to stop programs from running in the background:

1. Click on the Settings.
2. Press on Privacy.
3. Select on Background Apps.
4. Turn off the toggle option for the apps you want to stop running in the background.

When you follow the instructions, apps will no longer waste resources when you are not actively using them to improve system performance.

Get rid of non-essential applications

Typically, new devices arrive with apps you do not require, such as bloatware and system tools you will never use, wasting space on the disk and resources. When attempting to improve system performance, you should permanently eliminate non-essential apps.

To remove non-essential programs in Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps.
3. Click on Apps & features.
4. Select the app to terminate.
5. Click the Uninstall button.
6. Click the Uninstall option.

Once completing the procedures, you may need to repeat them to remove any remaining non-essential applications from the device.

Install quality apps only.

Applications that are old and poorly designed, as well as programs that load unneeded functionality, might harm your computer’s speed. Also, just because an app comes from a firm you trust does not imply it is a good app.

Install only decent apps to keep your smartphone healthy and responsive. You should install programs from the Microsoft Store since they have been tested for security and speed. If the program is not in the store, only download it from a reliable source and validate that it works on Windows 10.

If you are hesitant, look up additional information about the app online. For example, check the software vendor’s forums to see whether users are having problems, or you can ask a query on the forums to learn more.

Follow these instructions to install programs from the Microsoft Store on Windows 10:

1. Open Microsoft Store.
2. Use the search box to find an app.
3. Select the app from the result.
4. Click the Install button.

The app will be installed on your smartphone when you finish the instructions. If the software is unavailable in the Microsoft Store, download the installer from a trustworthy source and follow the instructions on the vendor support website to install and set up the application.

Clean up hard drive space

Whether you have a regular Disk Hard disk (HDD) or a Solid-State Drive (SSD), running Windows with an entire hard disk is never a good idea since it will hinder performance.

If the device has relatively recent technology and you find that programs, managing files, and other operations are taking longer to finish, it is most likely due to a lack of space on the disk. This usually becomes clear once the drive has been packed with around 70% of its overall capacity. Using the Storage options to clear temporary and useless items to save space is one technique to prevent storage from affecting performance.

Follow the given steps:

1. Click on Settings.
2. Double Click on System.
3. Select Storage.
4. Now click the Temporary Files option. 
5. Check and select the files you want to delete to reclaim space and improve system performance. 

When selecting temporary files, clicking the Downloads option will erase everything in the “Downloads” folder. If you want to keep these files, leave this box unchecked. You may also choose to remove the “Previous Windows Installation(s)” box (if applicable).

      6. Click the Remove Files button.

If the system can reclaim enough space, the device’s performance should increase considerably once the procedures are completed.

In addition to the Storage options, you may clear up space using the OneDrive Files On-demand function. Set up Files On-demand on your device using these steps.

If you can’t free up enough space, try this article to learn how to maximize your computer’s storage.

Use drive defragmentation

Organizing the data might improve responsiveness if you have an older computer with a typical spinning platter hard disk.

Follow these procedures to run the defragmentation utility to speed up the system drive:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Storage.
4. Click the Optimize Drives option under the “More storage settings” section.
5. Select the drive that needs defragmentation.
6. Click the Optimize button.

When you complete the steps, the program will reorganize the files to make them more accessible the next time they are needed, resulting in considerable speed improvement. The only catch is that the procedure might take a long time, depending on the amount of data on the disk. (It is better to let the procedure go overnight if you have an older machine.)

If you have a computer with an SSD, utilizing the defragmentation program will execute the trim command, informing the storage device of the data blocks that may be securely removed. This approach can considerably enhance speed because the disk will not have to wipe the blocks during the writing data process.

Configure ReadyBoost

You may also utilize the ReadyBoost function to increase performance while using the defragmentation tool on machines with outdated hardware.

ReadyBoost is not a new feature in Windows 10. It’s been around for a long time as a function that caches files on a flash drive or SD card to improve overall system speed. (If the device has an SSD, this function will not be available because it will not provide any further benefits.)

Connect a USB flash drive and follow these instructions to enable ReadyBoost to speed up your computer:

1. Click on File Explorer.
2. Select “This PC” option.
3. Now click on right-click the USB flash drive and select the Properties option.
4. Click on the ReadyBoost tab.
5. Select the “Dedicate this device to ReadyBoost” option.
6. Click the Apply button.
7. Click the OK button.

After you’ve completed the procedures, the detachable disk should aid in improving the computer’s performance.

If you require a USB flash drive to work with ReadyBoost, we recommend the SanDisk Extreme Go because of its storage capacity, dependability, and low pricing.

Perform malware scan

When a gadget begins to operate very slowly, it may result from a malware infection. Viruses, spyware, and other malware are known to use a large amount of system resources, rendering a device inoperable.

Follow the below given steps. 

1. Click on Start.
2. Click on Windows Security and select the top result to open the app.
3. Click on Virus & Threat Protection.
4. Then click the “Check for updates” option.
5. Click the Check for updates button.
6. Click on Virus & Threat Protection option.
7. Click the Scan options option.
8. Select the Full scan option.
9. Click the Scan Now button.

After you finish the procedures, Microsoft Defender Antivirus should detect and remove any malware interfering with performance.

Microsoft Defender Offline scan

Suppose you can’t use the usual antivirus because it’s not running. In that case, updates aren’t working, or there are scanning issues, the device is most likely infected with one of those clever infections that can’t be uninstalled while the system operates. In this instance, the antivirus can do an offline scan.

Follow the given steps:

1. Click on Start.
2. Click on Windows Security and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click on Virus & Threat Protection.
4. Now click the Scan options option.
5. Select the “Microsoft Defender Offline scan” option.
6. Click the Scan Now button.

When you finish the procedures, the system will immediately resume the offline experience of Microsoft Defender, and it will search for and remove any threats that could not be eradicated while Windows 10 was operating.

Install the latest update.

Install cumulative updates

Updates occur automatically with Windows 10; however, depending on the update or the device’s setup, they may only download and install as soon as they become available. If your computer performs slower than usual, an update to increase speed may be available.

Follow the given steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Check for updates button.
5. Click the Restart Now button.

Upgrade to the latest version.

If the device runs an earlier version of Windows 10, updating to the latest version can help improve performance or bring new capabilities to help you be more productive.

Follow the given steps:

1. Click on Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Check for updates button.
5. Click the “Download and install” option.
6. Click the Restart Now button.

When you finish the procedures, the device will restart to install the new version, improving overall system performance.

Reset the device to factory defaults.

To enhance startup and shutdown, battery life, and general system efficiency, you may reset the machine to factory default settings and start anew with a clean copy of Windows 10.

Warning: Before erasing your contents, consider establishing a comprehensive backup or moving them to an external disk.

To reset a device to its factory settings in Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Recovery.
4. Click on the Get Started button.
5. Click the Keep My Files button. 
6. Select the Local reinstall option.

A quick tip: If you wish to install Windows 10 without the programs with the device, or if the Local reinstall option does not work, choose Cloud download.

1. Click the Next button.
2. Click the Reset button.

Following completion of the instructions, Windows 10 will be reinstalled, and prior configurations, settings, and programs will be erased to improve system efficiency. If you choose to erase everything, remember to restore your files from a previous backup when the operation is complete.

Upgrade system memory

Inadequate system memory can also cause your computer to be slow, mainly if you use many programs and have many active tabs in your web browser. To see the entire amount of Memory and the current memory utilization on Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Click on Start.
2. Select Task Manager, and click the top option to open the app.
3. Select the Performance tab.
4. Click on Memory option.
5. On the rightside, now check the total amount of RAM and in the bottom-left corner, under “In use (Compressed),” you can find the total amount of Memory currently in use.

It’s time to install memory sticks if the overall quantity of “in use” Memory is consistently high (about 80%).

Although installing extra Memory is reasonably straightforward, locating a suitable kit can be difficult. Always utilize Task Manager to determine what kind of RAM you require and whether any slots are available. It is also advised that you visit the website of your device maker to obtain more detailed information about memory needs.

Final Thoughts

Optimizing your Windows 10 system’s speed entails various strategies, ranging from basic settings modifications to significant hardware upgrades. Regularly implementing these optimizations can ensure a smoother and more efficient computing experience. Remember that maintaining system health through frequent inspections and clever tweaks is critical to preserving speed and productivity over time.

FAQs

Q. Why does restarting my computer improve performance?

A. Restarting clears Memory, ends running processes, and resolves stability issues accumulated during prolonged use.

Q. How can I turn off startup apps to speed up boot time?

A.Navigate to Settings > Apps > Startup, Sort by impact, and turn off unnecessary apps.

Q. What’s the impact of disabling apps relaunch on startup?

A. Disabling this feature prevents desktop programs from reopening after a restart, enhancing overall efficiency.

Q. How do background apps affect system performance?

A. Background apps consume resources even when not in use. You can disable them via Settings > Privacy > Background apps.

Q. How can I remove non-essential applications?

A. Access Settings > Apps & features, select the app to uninstall and follow the on-screen prompts.

Q. Why should I install quality apps only?

A. Old or poorly designed apps can negatively impact system speed. Consider Microsoft Store apps for reliability.

Q. How does cleaning up hard drive space improve performance?

A. Clearing temporary files and useless items via Settings > System > Storage can free up space and boost system speed.

Q. What’s the significance of drive defragmentation?

A. Defragmentation organizes data, making it more accessible and improving disk access speed, especially for older computers.

Q. How does ReadyBoost enhance performance?

A.ReadyBoost caches files on a flash drive to boost overall system speed, ideal for outdated hardware.

Q. Why is updating to the latest version crucial?

A. New updates introduce performance improvements and new features. Regularly check for updates via Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.