How to Speed Up Your Computer (Windows 10 & 11)

A slow computer is frustrating — but you usually don’t need to buy a new one. These steps will speed up most Windows PCs in under 30 minutes.

Why computers slow down

Over time, PCs accumulate background programs, temporary files, and startup apps that eat resources. The good news: almost all of it is fixable for free.

Step 1: Disable startup programs

Too many apps launching at boot is the #1 cause of slow startups.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Startup apps tab.
3. Right-click programs you don’t need at boot and choose Disable.

Keep your antivirus enabled, but things like chat apps and updaters can usually be disabled safely.

Step 2: Free up disk space

A nearly-full drive slows everything down.

1. Open Settings → System → Storage.
2. Turn on Storage Sense to clean up automatically.
3. Use Cleanup recommendations to remove temporary files.

Step 3: Uninstall programs you don’t use

Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps and remove anything you no longer need.

Step 4: Check for malware

Malware often runs silently in the background. Run a full scan with Windows Security (built in) or a trusted free antivirus.

Step 5: Adjust for best performance

1. Search for “View advanced system settings”.
2. Under Performance, click Settings.
3. Choose Adjust for best performance (or disable specific animations).

Step 6: Consider an SSD upgrade

If your PC still uses a mechanical hard drive (HDD), switching to an SSD is the single biggest speed upgrade you can make.

Quick checklist

FAQ

Will these steps delete my files? No. Cleaning temporary files and disabling startup apps does not touch your personal documents.

How often should I do this? A quick cleanup every couple of months keeps most PCs running smoothly.

Conclusion

Start with disabling startup apps and freeing disk space — those two alone make a noticeable difference. If your PC is still slow, an SSD is the upgrade worth paying for.