Top 10 Ways to Increase Your PC Speed

We’ll share the top 10 ways to increase your PC speed and get it running like new again. Is your PC feeling a bit slow lately? Opening programs taking ages? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there! A sluggish computer can be a real pain, but the good news is, there are plenty of simple things you can do to give it a much-needed speed boost. In this guide,

1. Restart Your PC Regularly

Think of it like a good night’s sleep for your computer. When you restart, your PC gets a chance to clear out all the temporary files and processes that have built up in its memory. It’s like hitting the refresh button, giving your PC a fresh start.

Why it works: Restarting closes all running programs and processes, freeing up memory and resources.
Restart vs. Shut Down: Restarting is different from shutting down. Shutting down completely powers off your PC, while restarting closes everything and then starts it back up again.
How to restart:
1. Click the Start button.
2. Click the Power icon.
3. Select “Restart.”

2. Uninstall Programs You Don’t Use

Over time, we tend to install a lot of programs, some of which we end up never using. These unused programs take up precious space on your hard drive and can slow down your PC.

How to identify unused programs: Go to the Control Panel and look for programs you haven’t used in a while. You can also sort programs by their last used date.
How to uninstall:
1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Click on “Programs” or “Programs and Features.”
3. Find the program you want to uninstall and click on it.
4. Click “Uninstall” and follow the prompts.
Alternative methods: You can also use third-party uninstaller software like Revo Uninstaller or IObit Uninstaller, which can help remove leftover files and registry entries.

3. Disable Startup Programs

Some programs are designed to start automatically when you turn on your PC, even if you don’t need them right away. This can significantly increase your PC’s boot time.

How startup programs affect boot time: Each startup program adds to the list of tasks your PC needs to complete before it’s ready to use, which can slow down the startup process.
How to disable startup programs:
1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Click on the “Startup” tab.
3. Right-click on any program you don’t need to start automatically and select “Disable.”
Caution: Be careful when disabling startup programs. Some programs, like antivirus software or system utilities, are essential for your PC’s proper functioning.

4. Clean Up Your Hard Drive

Just like your room gets messy over time, your hard drive can accumulate a lot of digital clutter – temporary files, old downloads, and other unnecessary data. This can slow down your PC as it struggles to find the files it needs.

Disk Cleanup vs. third-party tools: Disk Cleanup is a built-in Windows tool that does a decent job of cleaning up your hard drive. Third-party tools like CCleaner offer more advanced features and options.
How to use Disk Cleanup:
1. Open the Start menu and search for “Disk Cleanup.”
2. Select the drive you want to clean up (usually C:).
3. Check the boxes next to the types of files you want to delete.
4. Click “OK” and then “Delete Files.”
Benefits of regular cleaning: Cleaning your hard drive regularly frees up space, which can improve your PC’s overall performance and responsiveness.

5. Defragment Your Hard Drive (HDD only)

If your PC has a traditional hard disk drive (HDD), defragmenting it can help speed things up. Think of it like organizing a messy bookshelf – it makes it easier for your PC to find the files it needs.

What is fragmentation? When files are saved and deleted on an HDD, they can become scattered across different parts of the disk. This makes it take longer for the drive to read and write data.
How to defragment:
1. Open the Start menu and search for “Defragment and Optimize Drives.”
2. Select your HDD and click “Optimize.”
When to defragment: Defragment your HDD occasionally, especially if you notice it’s running slower than usual. SSDs don’t need to be defragmented.

6. Upgrade Your RAM

RAM is like your PC’s short-term memory. It’s where your PC stores data for programs that are currently running. The more RAM you have, the more programs your PC can handle smoothly at the same time.

How RAM affects performance: If you don’t have enough RAM, your PC might start using your hard drive as virtual memory, which is much slower. This can lead to noticeable slowdowns.
How to check RAM usage:
1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager
2. Click on the “Performance” tab.
3. Look at the “Memory” section to see how much RAM is being used.
Choosing the right RAM: Check your PC’s specifications to see what type and maximum amount of RAM it supports.
Installing new RAM: If you’re comfortable opening up your PC, installing new RAM is relatively simple. There are plenty of online tutorials to guide you.

7. Check for Viruses and Malware:

Viruses and malware are malicious software that can infect your PC and cause all sorts of problems, including slowdowns.

Types of malware: Viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, spyware, and adware are all examples of malware.
Impact on performance: Malware can consume system resources, slow down your internet connection, and even damage your files.
Free vs. paid antivirus: Both free and paid antivirus software can be effective, but paid options often offer more advanced features and protection.
Safe browsing tips:
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments in emails.
- Download software only from trusted sources.
- Keep your operating system and software up to date.

8. Update Your Drivers

Drivers are like little translators that help your PC communicate with its hardware components (like your graphics card, sound card, etc.). Outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues and performance problems.

Why updating drivers is important: Updated drivers often include bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features.
How to update drivers:
1. Open the Start menu and search for “Device Manager.”
2. Expand the categories to find the device you want to update.
3. Right-click on the device and select “Update driver.”
4. Follow the prompts to search for and install the latest driver.
Risks of outdated drivers: Outdated or incompatible drivers can lead to crashes, freezes, and other performance issues.

9. Consider an SSD Upgrade

If your PC still has an old-school hard disk drive (HDD), upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD) can make a world of difference in terms of speed.

SSDs vs. HDDs: SSDs are much faster than HDDs because they have no moving parts. This means your PC will boot up faster, programs will load quicker, and files will open in a snap.
Types of SSDs: The two main types are SATA SSDs and NVMe SSDs. NVMe SSDs are generally faster but might not be compatible with older PCs.
Choosing and installing an SSD: Research SSDs that are compatible with your PC and its motherboard. Installing an SSD is relatively simple, but you’ll need to clone your existing hard drive to the SSD.

10. Keep Your PC Cool

When your PC gets too hot, it can start to slow down to protect itself from damage. This is called thermal throttling.

How heat affects performance: High temperatures can cause your CPU and GPU to reduce their clock speeds, leading to decreased performance.
Improving airflow: Make sure your PC case has good ventilation and that the fans are working properly. You might need to clean the dust out of your PC regularly.
Additional cooling options: If your PC runs hot even with good airflow, consider adding more fans or upgrading your CPU cooler.

Additional Tips to Boost Your PC Speed:

Adjust Visual Effects: If you have an older or less powerful PC, reducing visual effects can improve performance.
Disable Background Apps: Prevent unnecessary apps from running in the background and hogging resources.
Change Power Settings: Switch to the “High Performance” power plan for better performance, but keep in mind it will use more energy.
Run System Maintenance Tasks: Use built-in Windows tools like System File Checker and DISM to fix system errors and improve stability.
Reinstall Windows: If nothing else works, a clean reinstall of Windows can sometimes solve persistent performance issues.
Consider Hardware Upgrades: If your PC is very old, upgrading components like the CPU or graphics card might be the only way to get a significant speed boost.