[Complete Roadmap] How to Improve Your Computer Performance Instantly on Windows 10/11

If your computer’s performance is slowing your productivity, this guide is for you. I get how frustrating a slow PC can be. It slows your work, drains your patience, and steals valuable time. That’s why it’s essential to keep in mind tips for improving your computer’s performance.

In fact, studies show that people lose up to three hours weekly battling slow systems. If you’re one of them, follow the solutions covered in this article to resolve the issue permanently.

The Most Common Reasons for a Slow Windows Computer

There are many reasons why your computer is running so slow. Some possible poor PC performance causes are as follows:

1. Lack of computer maintenance

Regular computer maintenance ensures your PC runs optimally and avoids frustrating crashes and slowdowns. Otherwise, your computer’s performance, security, and longevity may suffer.

To ensure your computer is functioning properly, you should perform the following tasks regularly:

• Run regular antivirus scans.
• Remove unnecessary files to clean up disk space.
• Optimize your drives (HDD and SSD).
• Check for storage and memory issues.

When you fail to follow a regular maintenance schedule, your computer will experience issues like junk file accumulation, overheating, system crashes, data loss, and failing hardware in addition to poor performance.

2. Driver problems

If your driver software is out of date, corrupted, or not functioning properly, your operating system may not be able to communicate properly with your hardware, which can result in slow performance.

Driver issues can also cause conflicts between your system’s software components, which can lead to performance issues like freezes, crashes, and instability.

Related: How to Update Drivers on Windows 10/11 PC?

3. Software issues

Software culprits leading to poor PC performance include outdated or incompatible software, unnecessary startup apps, and resource-hungry programs.

Running too many programs at once is also a practice that often makes the PC intolerably slow. To increase PC performance, consider closing some programs or restarting.

Similarly, outdated operating systems and programs can slow down your PC. To fix that, update Windows and your apps frequently to ensure they work perfectly.

4. Registry issues

The Windows registry is a crucial yet sensitive database that stores configuration settings, options, and preferences for your computer’s programs and hardware.

Over time, registry errors and corruption develop, causing many system problems, including slow PC performance.

5. Hardware issues

When it comes to hardware problems leading to poor performance, insufficient amounts of memory, storage space, or processing power are often to blame.

For instance, if your computer does not have enough RAM, it may fail to run several apps at once. A hard drive running out of space may struggle to swap data in and out of memory.

To fix all these hardware problems and improve PC performance, consider upgrading some parts, but before that you can apply fixes we will speak about below.

Also read: Factors That May Cause Hard Drive Failure

How to Improve PC Performance on Windows 10/11

Fix 1: Use reliable third-party tools

The fastest and most effective way to boost PC performance is to use trustworthy third-party tools, like CCleaner, Advanced SystemCare, and Auslogics BoostSpeed. These programs are designed to:

• Address performance bottlenecks. 
• Clean unnecessary clutter.
• Optimize your PC settings without needing technical expertise.

Auslogics BoostSpeed is quite unique because it offers comprehensive features that can supercharge your computer’s performance. It has over 30 features, from removing temporary files and defragging your system to cleaning your registry. 

Here’s how it works: 

• Download the software from Auslogics official website and install it. 
• After the installation, launch the program. You will see a big Scan button. Click on it to start the process.

• After the scan, click on Resolve All to optimize your system.

• You can also click on See scan details to find out what BoostSpeed uncovered and suggest to do. Here, you can deselect areas you don’t want to optimize and make adjustments that suit you.

That said, if you are not sure which third-party tool to use, here is a quick summary of some of the best on the Internet today. We have put together a comparison of their main features to help you make an informed decision.

Fix 2: Update your drivers

Drivers are software that help your computer communicate with hardware devices like network adapters or graphics cards. When these drivers are not updated, the devices they control run inefficiently. This might be the reason you are experiencing performance issues.

Updating your drivers ensures that your hardware components, such as the graphics card, network adapter, and sound card, are running with the latest software. This helps prevent crashes, compatibility issues, or slow performance. 

Below are important drivers to update for optimal performance:

• Graphics card for sharper visuals and better gaming.
• Network adapter for faster internet and stable connection.
• Sound card for enhanced audio quality.
• Chipset drivers for improved system stability.
• Storage drivers for faster data transfer speeds.

Step 1: To update your drivers, you need to go to Device Manager. Type Device Manager in Windows Search and open the app.

Step 2: Expand the categories to find the device whose driver you want to update (for example, expand Display adapters if you want to update a graphics card driver).

Step 3: Right-click the device and choose Update driver.

Step 4: On the next screen, select Search automatically for drivers.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.

Fix 3: Update your Windows

Your drivers are not the only things to update. If, after completing the step above, performance does not improve significantly, try updating Windows.

Keeping Windows up to date is crucial for maintaining system stability and performance. Updates often include bug fixes and performance enhancements that protect your computer from vulnerabilities and improve its overall functionality.

Step 1: To update Windows, open Settings by pressing Win + I. Click on Windows Update.

Step 2: Click Check for updates.

Step 3: If updates are available, click Download and install.

Restart your PC if prompted to complete the update.

Fix 4: Remove unneeded software

Now that your PC is up to date, you should remove unnecessary software. Unnecessary apps take up valuable disk space on your computer and consume plenty of system resources. All of these can slow down your device, limiting the amount of storage available for important data. So, to improve your machine productivity, remove unnecessary apps. Windows has a built-in Add or Remove Programs feature to uninstall apps:

• Open Control Panel from Windows Search.

• Select Uninstall a program under Programs.

• Locate the app you would like to uninstall. Select it and click the Uninstall button.

Fix 5: Disable unneeded startup programs

Disabling unnecessary startup programs in Windows can improve PC performance by reducing the number of applications competing for system resources when the system starts. Every time your system boots, startup programs consume system resources like CPU, RAM, and disk space. This can slow down your computer, especially during bootup and even minutes after booting.

By disabling startup programs you don’t need immediately, the system can focus on essential tasks, leading to faster startup times and smoother overall performance. This also frees up resources for other applications and ensures that your PC operates more efficiently throughout its use.

Here’s how to use Task Manager to disable the startup apps: 

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and click the Startup apps tab.
• Select any app you want to disable and click Disable.

You can check the startup impact of each app in the respective column to help decide which one should go. If an app’s startup impact is rated as High and it is not needed for startup, you should consider disabling it.

Fix 6: Clean up your registry

To boost PC performance further and make sure your OS is running smoothly, you need to keep your registry clean. This is important because when the registry gets cluttered with outdated or unnecessary entries (like leftover settings from uninstalled programs), the system may take longer to load necessary system files, which might cause a drop in performance.

Cleaning the registry involves removing these outdated, invalid, or broken registry entries that may be causing performance issues and system instability.

Here’s how to do it: 

• Open the Registry Editor by pressing the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. In the text box, type regedit and click OK or press Enter.

• Copy and paste HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software into the address bar and see if there are entries from programs you’ve uninstalled or software you no longer use.

Fix 7: Remove junk files from your PC

Accumulating junk files can slow down your computer because this makes it harder for the system to manage files efficiently. This can lead to slower read and write speeds, longer loading times, and decreased overall performance. This is especially noticeable when running resource-intensive tasks or applications.

Ideally, these files become useless after their task is complete, like after a program is installed. However, they often remain on your system, taking up storage space unnecessarily and contributing to clutter. Over time, the accumulation of these files can slow down your computer and reduce its efficiency. 

Performing a disk cleanup is one way to remove junk files from your PC. You can use the built-in Windows Disk Cleanup tool to identify and delete unnecessary files that take up disk space on your computer.

• Type Disk cleanup into Windows Search and open the app.
• Windows will tell you how much space you can free up and the files that are safe to delete. Under Files to delete, select the files you want to remove and click OK.

• To perform a more thorough cleanup, click the Clean up system files button. Also, select the file types you would like to remove and click OK to proceed.

Fix 8: Optimize your hard drive

Optimizing your SSD or HDD can boost PC performance and even the lifespan of your machine. Optimization will allow your programs and files to load faster and lead to better system functioning.

During optimization, HDDs go through defragmentation, which reorganizes scattered file pieces so they are stored together, making it quicker to access programs and files. SSDs, on the other hand, go through trimming which clears unused data to keep the drive running efficiently.

Either way, optimization reduces the extra work your drive has to do, preventing unnecessary wear and tear. As a result, your system works more smoothly, loads files faster, and your drive stays in good condition for a longer time.

Windows has a built-in tool that can optimize your drive. To run it: 

• Type defragment and optimize drives in Windows Search. Select the app from the search results.

• In the tool, a list of drives will appear. Select the drive you want to optimize. Windows will also tell you if the file has issues and when it was last fragmented or trimmed.

• Click Optimize to start the process. For SSDs, this will run the TRIM command; for HDDs, it will perform defragmentation.

Fix 9: Adjust power settings

Power settings control how your computer uses energy. With this setting, Windows tries to strike a balance between performance and energy consumption. Windows offers three different power plans that try to trade off one for the other.

Amongst all three, the best performance plan prioritizes better performance over efficient power consumption by allowing your CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage devices to run at maximum speed, even when the system is idle. This can be especially beneficial for users who run demanding applications like gaming, video editing, programming, or data analysis.

This power-intensive mode ensures that the system doesn’t throttle performance to save power. However, keep in mind that this plan may drain the battery faster and increase power consumption. 

So, if your computer is running slow and you want a noticeable boost in overall system performance, make sure to do the following:

• Open the Settings app (Windows + I) and click on System. On the left pane, navigate to Power & battery.

• Click on Power mode and select Best performance.

Also read: Power Options in Windows 10: Advanced Guide

Fix 10: Upgrade your hardware

Upgrading your system can improve its performance, especially if it’s an old PC. If you’re on a tight budget, you can make specific upgrades based on what you use the computer for. Here are some things to consider:

• Add more RAM. Increasing your RAM allows your computer to handle more applications simultaneously without slowing down. This is important if you frequently run multiple programs simultaneously.
• Upgrade your HDD or SSD. SSDs offer significantly faster read/write speeds and boot times compared to traditional hard drives. Your PC will become faster and more responsive. 

Read after: Best SSD for Your Gaming: Top Choices for Your Gaming Needs

• Get a new graphics card. If you’re a gamer, you should consider upgrading the GPU to enhance visual performance, increase frame rates, and get support for new technologies. Do this, and you’ll have smoother gameplay, better rendering in graphic-intensive applications, and an overall improved multimedia experience.

Here is a quick summary of all the best solutions on how to improve your computer performance:

Extra Tips on How to Make Your PC Run Like New

Tip 1: Maintain your PC regularly

If you want to speed up your Windows PC, you need to regularly maintain it to keep it running smoothly. If you don’t, small issues will pile up and eventually slow everything down. So, try your best to do everything I’ve already talked about in the previous section, like: 

• Getting rid of junk files. 
• Fixing system registry errors. 
• Checking for and removing viruses and malware.
• Updating Windows.

Tip 2: Adjust your PC settings for gaming

If you’re a gamer, you can elevate your gaming experiences by making a few tweaks. You can:

• Enable Game Mode to ensure your game gets priority access to your CPU and GPU resources and suspend non-essential background activities. 
• Lower in-game resolution and graphical settings.
• Disable unnecessary background apps.

Here’s a detailed guide on how to get the most out of your PC for gaming: Winning Strategies: How to Optimize Your PC for High-Performance Gaming

Tip 3: Shut down your computer regularly

Many people keep their computers running for days, thinking it saves time. It doesn’t. Shutting down properly helps your PC in the long run. Here’s why:

• It clears temporary files and refreshes your system memory. 
• It prevents overheating by giving hardware components a break. 
• It protects your system from losing data when the power suddenly goes off.

Try to shut down your PC at least once a day to keep its performance at its peak and prolong the lifespan of your computer

Tip 4: Tweak Windows through the registry

One way to improve Windows performance is by tweaking settings through the registry. Aside from cleaning up your registry, there are lots of adjustments you can do with the registry to improve performance. For instance, using the Windows registry, you can:

• Allocate more resources for your games or other resource-intensive application. 
• Reduce network latency for your games. 
• Speed up your shutdowns and many more.

These adjustments can optimize system behavior, speed up processes, and reduce unnecessary resource usage.

Tip 5: Optimize your browser

Web browsers can hog resources, which can slow down your computer, but you can make some changes to get a smoother browsing experience without straining the system. Here’s what you can do:

• Close any tabs or applications you’re not using. 
• Clear browsing data like cache and cookies. 
• Disable or remove any browser extensions you don’t need. 
• Update your browser to the latest version get recent updates. 

Conclusion

Learning how to increase your PC performance does not end here. To ensure your computer works fine, it’s essential to stay proactive. You should regularly update your system and perform routine maintenance like disk cleanup.

With these practices in place, you can extend the life of your device and enjoy a faster, more reliable computing experience.

We would love to hear from you. Did you find this helpful? If you also have some personal tricks that work for you, you can drop them in the comments.

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