- Updating Windows, drivers, and applications reduces errors and performance bottlenecks.
- Controlling startup programs, services, and visual effects significantly frees up RAM and CPU.
- Cleaning viruses, bloatware, temporary files, and nearly full disks prevents most slowdowns.
- Hardware upgrades such as SSD and more RAM, along with good ventilation, multiply the system's fluidity.
If your Windows 10 or 11 PC is getting slower and slower, you don't have to give up. With a good combination of system tweaks, cleaning, maintenance, and a little common sense, you can extend its lifespan and get it running smoothly again without spending a penny (or very little).
Below you'll find a comprehensive guide that compiles and reorganizes the most effective tips and tricks for improving Windows performance . There are many steps, but you can apply them gradually, prioritizing those that best suit your usage.
Update Windows, drivers, and applications
Before making any changes to sensitive settings, it's advisable to ensure the system isn't running slowly due to bugs already fixed in patches and updates . Microsoft and hardware manufacturers ( see our PC hardware review guide ) are constantly releasing stability, security, and performance improvements.
To check for system updates in Windows 10 and 11, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click "Check for updates." If any pending downloads appear, click "Download and install" and let your computer do its job.
On that same screen, go to "View optional updates" . That's where you'll often find new drivers for components (graphics card, sound card, etc.) that can fix bugs or minor performance bottlenecks.
Don't forget your software: always keep your browser, antivirus, office suite, games, and all other applications you use daily up to date. Many have their own built-in update system, while others can be updated through the Microsoft Store or the manufacturer's official website.
Clean your PC: viruses, junk files, and unnecessary programs
Over time, a computer fills up with programs you no longer use, unnecessary files, and, in the worst cases, malware . All of that takes up space and is noticeable at startup and in daily use.
Start by ruling out security issues. Run a full scan with Windows Defender (Windows Security) or your trusted antivirus software (see our cybersecurity news ). Defender currently offers very decent protection with moderate resource consumption , so if you're using a modest computer, it might be a better option than very resource-intensive security suites.
If you prefer third-party antivirus software that doesn't significantly slow down your system, there are relatively lightweight solutions like Kaspersky, ESET, Sophos, F-Secure, Avast, Panda (free), or Bitdefender . On the other hand, tools like McAfee or some very comprehensive security suites can significantly reduce performance, especially on older laptops.
In addition to antivirus software, Windows includes the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) , which is very useful as an extra layer of protection. Running it is as simple as opening the "Run" dialog box with Windows + R , typing MRT , and following the wizard to perform a scan for existing malware.
Once viruses have been ruled out, it's time to check for software. Many laptops come loaded with bloatware and manufacturer testing tools that are useless and consume RAM and CPU.
To uninstall them, open the classic Control Panel > Programs and Features and remove anything you know you don't use. In Windows 10 and 11, you can also go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features , review the list, and click "Uninstall" on anything unnecessary, including pre-installed Windows apps you never open.
Controls Windows startup and background processes
One of the biggest culprits behind a slow computer is the number of programs that load automatically at startup . Many of these programs add themselves during installation.
In Windows 10, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc or Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select the option). On the Startup tab , review the list of applications. For each one, you'll see a "Startup impact" field. It's recommended to disable anything that isn't truly necessary (for example, download clients, game launchers, sync programs you don't use often, etc.).
In Windows 11, you also have a specific section called "Startup apps" within Settings > Apps. There you can see and disable at a glance what you don't want to start automatically when you turn on your PC.
In addition to startup, many apps remain in the background consuming resources. From Settings > Apps , by entering a specific app and opening "Advanced options," you can change the "Background app permissions" to "Never" for tools that don't need to be active all the time.
If you want to go a step further, there are utilities like CCleaner or Clean Master that include visual modules for viewing and disabling startup programs. If you use them, stick to those sections and basic cleaning; you don't need to tinker with everything they offer to see improvements.
Optimize startup: fast startup and clean boot
Windows 10 and 11 include a feature called Fast Startup that essentially combines shutdown with hibernation to reduce startup time. To enable it, go to Control Panel > Power Options , click on "Choose what the power buttons do," then click on "Change settings that are currently unavailable," and finally check the box next to "Turn on fast startup" under "Shutdown settings."
Keep in mind that the system doesn't shut down completely; it enters a sort of hibernation state . This is useful for a quick boot, but it's not advisable to use it exclusively if you need certain updates or hardware changes to take effect correctly.
On computers with very little RAM or that are very old, it can be worthwhile to perform a clean boot . This involves disabling all third-party services and programs at startup, leaving only the essential Microsoft components. It's more aggressive, but it frees up a considerable amount of memory and CPU.
The standard procedure involves opening "Run" with Windows + R, typing msconfig , and, in the Services tab , checking "Hide all Microsoft services" and clicking "Disable all." Then, in the Startup tab, open Task Manager and disable all startup items. After restarting, you should see if your computer runs much more smoothly.
Another little trick is to eliminate the delay that Windows applies before starting programs . This is done from the Registry Editor, by creating the Serialize key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer and inside it a DWORD 32 value called StartupDelayInMSec with a value of 0. It's a delicate adjustment, so it's best to back up the registry beforehand and only modify it if you know exactly what you're doing.
Manage visual effects, transparencies, and notifications
Windows comes loaded with animations, transparencies, shadows, and visual flourishes that look very nice but eat up resources, especially if you use basic hardware or an older integrated graphics card.
To remove all of that at once, type "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows" into the Start menu search bar . On the "Visual Effects" tab, you can select "Adjust for best performance," which disables most of the visual effects, or choose "Customize" and remove only what bothers you: window animations, shadows, fades, etc.
In Windows 11, there's an additional panel under Settings > Accessibility > Visual Effects where you can disable interface animations and other graphical details. The system will look somewhat "dry," but actions will feel more responsive.
The transparency of the taskbar, Start menu, and Action Center also increases GPU usage. Disabling it is as easy as going to Settings > Personalization > Colors and turning off the "Transparency effects" switch. Then you can choose a solid color for a clean look.
Another element worth reducing is Windows notifications and recommendations . In Settings > System > Notifications, disable anything you don't need, and at the bottom of the list, uncheck the box for "Get tips and suggestions while using Windows." Each notification icon indicates that the system is monitoring things in the background.
Disable unnecessary services, Cortana, and telemetry
Windows runs a lot of system services that you may never use . Some are related to networking, printing, faxing, and other functions that are rarely used in many homes.
To review these services, open "Run" by pressing Windows + R, type services.msc , and press Enter. From the Services window, you can disable those you know you don't need by setting their startup type to "Disabled." It's important to proceed with caution and only modify services you are familiar with, as some are critical to the system.
The Cortana voice assistant also consumes resources. In versions where it's still active, you can go to Settings > Cortana > "Talk to Cortana" and turn off all options. If you want to disable it completely, you can do so through the Registry by creating the WindowsSearch key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WcmSvc and within it a DWORD value, AllowCortana, with a value of 0.
Regarding telemetry and usage data transmission, Windows 11 groups many options under Settings > Privacy & security . In sections such as "General," "Voice," "Inking and typing personalization," or "Diagnostics and feedback," you can easily uncheck almost everything to reduce background processes and unnecessary network traffic.
If you want something even more automated, there are third-party tools like Optimizer (open source) that centralize many of these deactivations: services that don't add any value, telemetry, Cortana, fax and printing features, native Windows apps… It's always better to choose what to turn off yourself and not press "magic" buttons without reading, but as an advanced control panel, it's very convenient.
Free up disk space and clean temporary files
A nearly full hard drive or SSD is a sure way to experience slowdowns, stuttering, and problems opening resource-intensive programs . Windows needs free space for temporary files, virtual memory, and other internal operations.
Start by using the classic Disk Cleanup tool . Search for it in the Start menu, select your system drive (usually C:), and check items such as "Temporary Files," "Thumbnails," "Temporary Internet Files," etc. Then click "Clean up system files" to include deeper elements.
In Windows 11, things are more modernized: go to Settings > System > Storage and click on "Cleanup recommendations." There you'll see suggestions for emptying the Recycle Bin, cleaning up downloads, and deleting temporary files . It's all very guided.
If you want to be thorough, you can manually delete the contents of the temporary folder. Close all applications, press Windows + R, type %temp% , and delete all its contents (anything that can't be deleted is still in use, and that's fine). You can also navigate to C:\Users\"YOUR_USERNAME"\AppData\Local\Temp and perform the same operation.
Tools like WinDirStat are perfect for locating massive folders you didn't even know existed . Often, these are poorly designed programs that generate gigabytes of logs or temporary files. By identifying the culprit folder and program, you can clean them up and, if necessary, change their settings; see also our guide to folders and searching in Windows 11.
Beyond temporary files, check your Downloads, Videos, Pictures, and Desktop folders . Desktops cluttered with files slow down the initial login process. Delete what you don't need and move files you want to keep but don't use daily to the cloud (OneDrive, Google Drive, Amazon Photos, etc.).
Defragment mechanical disks and check virtual memory
If you're still using a mechanical hard drive (HDD) for your system, its performance drops drastically when it's heavily fragmented . Windows includes a tool to analyze and optimize these drives.
Type " Defragment and Optimize Drives " into the search bar , open it, select your HDD, and click "Optimize." The system will reorganize the data blocks for smoother reads, improving load times and extending the drive's lifespan. Note: If your drive is an SSD, Windows doesn't perform a standard defragmentation but rather a customized optimization; there's no need to force anything further.
Regarding virtual memory, Windows uses a pagefile on disk as an extension of RAM . Normally, you should let the system manage it automatically, but it's a good idea to check that this option is enabled.
Go to Control Panel > System and Security > System and click on "Advanced system settings". On the "Advanced" tab, under Performance, click "Settings" and then go back to "Advanced". There you will see the Virtual Memory section . Make sure the box " Automatically manage paging file size for all drives " is checked.
If you want to fine-tune it manually, it is usually recommended that the page file be between 1,5 and 3 times the amount of physical RAM , but for most users leaving it on automatic is sufficient and safer.
Adjust power and temperature plans
Laptops, and many desktops too, allow you to choose different power plans . If you're in "Power Saving" mode or similar, the processor and other components work in a limited way to consume less power, and you'll notice the difference right away.
In Windows 10, go to Settings > System > Power & sleep and access "Additional power settings." Select plans like "Balanced" or "High performance ." If the latter isn't listed, you can enable it by opening PowerShell as administrator and running the command `powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61`.
On laptops with Windows 11, you can also use the power slider from the battery icon, moving it towards "Better performance." However, keep in mind that the battery will drain faster and the computer will run hotter.
Speaking of temperature, many computers automatically reduce their clock speed when they get too hot, which results in performance drops . If your laptop feels hot to the touch or the fan is constantly running at full speed, it's time to clean the vents, check the internal fan (if you know how to open it), and consider a cooling pad or an external fan to give it some relief (see how to optimize airflow ).
On a desktop computer, a good cable reorganization and, if necessary, a change of thermal paste or fans can make the difference between a sluggish machine and one that handles the load well without struggling.
RAM, ReadyBoost and resource-intensive processes
No matter how much you optimize, if your computer runs short on RAM, Windows may have to constantly use the disk as backup memory , which is much slower than real RAM.
From Task Manager, on the "Performance" tab, you can see how much memory you have installed, how many slots are occupied, and what percentage is being used. If you find that your system is consistently above 80% usage, even without doing anything particularly demanding, upgrading your RAM is one of the best investments you can make.
On very old computers with no upgrade options, Windows offers a feature called ReadyBoost , which uses a fast USB drive or SD card as an additional cache. Simply connect the drive, open its properties from File Explorer, go to the ReadyBoost tab, and select "Use this device." It's not a miracle worker, but on PCs with very little RAM, it can alleviate the situation somewhat.
At the same time, get into the habit of closing programs and browser tabs you're not using . Browsers like Chrome or Edge with twenty tabs open devour RAM that's then unavailable for everything else. The Task Manager lets you see which processes are consuming the most memory and CPU at any given time, and close them if you don't need them.
The Task Manager itself helps you identify applications that have frozen or continue to consume resources even after you close them. Select them and click "End task" if you see them running uncontrollably and becoming unresponsive.
OneDrive, synchronizations and automatic maintenance
The integration of OneDrive into Windows is very convenient for always having your documents in the cloud, but continuous synchronization can slow down your computer if many files are being uploaded or downloaded.
If you notice slow syncing of large folders, right-click the OneDrive icon in the notification area, go to "More," and select "Pause sync," choosing how long to pause. You can resume syncing without any problems when you've finished your tasks.
Windows also includes automatic system maintenance that runs in the background when your PC is idle: it checks for updates, performs security scans, optimizes drives, and more. To launch it manually, open Control Panel, go to "Security and Maintenance," expand the "Maintenance" section, and click "Start Maintenance."
Along with all this, it's a good idea to restart your computer regularly . Many users leave it in sleep mode, which causes processes and memory leaks to accumulate. A good restart after using games or demanding programs is a lifesaver.
Program compatibility, restore points, and reinstallation
There are very old applications, designed for previous versions of Windows, that may malfunction and negatively impact the performance of the entire system . If you notice your PC becoming sluggish right after opening a particular program, check the developer's website to see if there's an updated version compatible with Windows 10/11.
If there isn't one, you can try the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter . Search for it in the Start menu ("Program Compatibility Troubleshooter"), run it, select the problematic program, and let the wizard try to adjust the settings accordingly.
When your system starts malfunctioning for no apparent reason, especially if it was working fine just a few days ago, using Windows restore points is incredibly helpful . These are snapshots of your system's configuration (drivers, registry, installed programs) that you can restore without losing your personal files.
To use them, go to View advanced system settings from the search bar, open the "System protection" tab, and click on "System Restore." You'll see a list of restore points; if you select "Show more restore points," you'll see the oldest ones (usually from the last 7-10 days). Choose one from when everything was working properly and follow the wizard.
If none of this fixes the problem, and you've already cleaned, run antivirus scans, checked drivers, and so on, it might be time to format or reinstall Windows . Before doing so, back up everything important (documents, photos, passwords, etc.).
In Windows 10 and 11, you can go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and use the "Reset this PC" option, choosing "Remove everything" to restore it to its factory settings. If you're feeling adventurous, you can also install a lighter edition of Windows (such as "Lite" versions) designed for less powerful computers, although that requires a bit more technical experience.
Hardware: SSD, more RAM, and physical cleaning
There comes a point where, no matter how much you optimize the system, the problem is old or limited hardware . If you're still booting Windows from a mechanical HDD, switching to an SSD is probably the most significant improvement you can make to your PC.
SSDs offer significantly faster read and write speeds compared to traditional hard drives, resulting in boot times of seconds and programs that open almost instantly . They are available in 2,5" SATA and M.2 form factors; make sure you buy one that is compatible with your motherboard.
In addition to storage, upgrading RAM from 4 to 8 GB, or from 8 to 16 GB, usually makes a world of difference, especially if you edit photos, video, work with virtual machines, or tend to have many tabs open.
Don't forget the physical part: opening up your desktop PC (or taking your laptop to a technician - see laptop hardware tutorials ) to remove dust, check fans, and review connections can prevent thermal throttling and intermittent failures that are difficult to diagnose.
In some cases where you already have sufficient SSD and RAM, the next limiting factor is the GPU or processor . If you've already experienced graphics card overheating issues, as is common with older gaming laptops, cleaning the heatsink, replacing thermal paste, and improving external ventilation are almost mandatory if you want to push them a little further.
Good day-to-day practices to keep Windows running smoothly
All the previous optimizations are of little use if we revert to bad habits in our daily routines. It's advisable to internalize some simple routines to maintain performance over time.
Avoid pirated software and suspicious downloads at all costs . Besides being illegal, they often come bundled with unwanted extras like Trojans, cryptocurrency miners, or adware that can clog up your computer. Whenever possible, use free, open-source, or trial versions of programs.
Get into the habit of shutting down or restarting your PC regularly , instead of always leaving it in sleep mode. This helps free up memory, closes zombie processes, and ensures that pending updates are applied correctly.
Don't overuse live wallpapers, image carousels, or cluttered widgets. A simple static background color or a single lightweight image is sufficient and doesn't require the system to process unnecessary effects.
And finally, perform a basic physical cleaning of the equipment periodically: keyboard, screen, ventilation grilles, ports… Dirt and dust are not only unsightly; they can also cause high temperatures, poor connections, and malfunctions that ultimately affect overall performance.
If you combine these software adjustments with some hardware maintenance, your Windows computer, however old it may be, can continue to perform reliably for much longer, handling office tasks, browsing, multimedia, and even light gaming , without needing to immediately spend money on a new one.
