How To Make Pc Windows 11 Faster

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Alright, let's dive into turbocharging your Windows 11 PC! Feeling like your once-zippy machine is now wading through molasses? You're not alone. But don't worry, we can definitely inject some speed back into it.

Ready to roll up your sleeves and give your PC a performance boost? Let's get started with the very first step!

Unleashing the Speed: Making Windows 11 Faster

We'll go through a comprehensive set of actions you can take. Some are quick tweaks, while others require a bit more digging. Stick with it, and you'll likely see a noticeable improvement.

Step 1: The Initial Cleanup - Taming Startup Programs

Those programs that automatically launch when you boot up your computer can really bog things down. Let's see what's running in the background unnecessarily.

Accessing Startup Apps

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc simultaneously. This will open the Task Manager.
  2. Click on the "Startup apps" tab. You'll see a list of applications and their "Startup impact."

Disabling Unnecessary Startup Programs

  1. Carefully review the list. Identify programs you don't need running the moment you turn on your PC. Common culprits include various updaters, non-essential utilities, and software you rarely use.
  2. To disable a program, simply click on it and then click the "Disable" button at the bottom right of the Task Manager window.
  3. Be cautious! Avoid disabling essential system processes or programs you know you need running from the start (like your antivirus software). If you're unsure about something, it's best to leave it enabled.

Step 2: The System Hygiene - Removing Temporary Files

Over time, your system accumulates a lot of temporary files that serve their purpose briefly but then just clutter your storage and can slow things down. Let's get rid of them.

Using Storage Sense (Recommended)

Windows 11 has a built-in tool called Storage Sense that can automatically manage temporary files and more.

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Click on "System" in the left-hand sidebar.
  3. Select "Storage".
  4. Make sure "Storage Sense" is turned On.
  5. Click on "Storage Sense" to configure its settings.
  6. Under "Cleanup of temporary files," ensure the box for "Keep Windows running smoothly by automatically cleaning up temporary system and app files" is checked.
  7. You can also configure how often Storage Sense runs and what it cleans up. Click "Run Storage Sense now" to perform an immediate cleanup.

Manual Temporary File Deletion (Alternative)

  1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type %temp% and press Enter. This will open the temporary files folder for your user account.
  3. Select all the files and folders within this directory (Ctrl + A) and press Delete. Some files might be in use and cannot be deleted; just click "Skip" for those.
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 with the following commands (pressing Enter after each):
    • temp
    • prefetch
  5. Empty your Recycle Bin to permanently remove these files.

Step 3: The Performance Tweaks - Adjusting Visual Effects

Windows 11 has some nice visual flourishes, but they can consume system resources. If performance is your priority, you can tone them down.

Accessing Performance Options

  1. Press the Windows key and type "performance".
  2. Select "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows" from the search results. This will open the Performance Options window.

Configuring Visual Effects

  1. In the "Visual Effects" tab, you'll see several options.
  2. For maximum performance, you can select "Adjust for best performance" at the top. This will disable all visual effects.
  3. Alternatively, you can choose "Custom" and manually select which effects to keep. Some less resource-intensive but still visually helpful options include:
    • Show thumbnails instead of icons
    • Smooth edges of screen fonts
    • Show window contents while dragging
  4. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save your changes.

Step 4: The System Checkup - Updating Drivers

Outdated drivers, especially for your graphics card, can lead to performance issues. Keeping them up to date is crucial.

Updating Graphics Drivers

  1. The best way to update your graphics drivers is usually through the software provided by the manufacturer (NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Radeon Software). Check your system tray for their icons.
  2. Alternatively, you can go to the manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and download the latest drivers for your specific graphics card model.
  3. You can also use Device Manager:
    1. Right-click on the Start button and select "Device Manager".
    2. Expand "Display adapters".
    3. Right-click on your graphics card and select "Update driver". 1  
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      answers.microsoft.com
    4. You can choose to search automatically for updated drivers or browse your computer if you've already downloaded them.

Updating Other Drivers

It's also a good idea to keep other drivers (like network, audio, etc.) updated. You can usually find these on your motherboard or laptop manufacturer's support website.

Step 5: The Resource Management - Managing Background Apps

Some apps continue to run in the background even when you're not actively using them, consuming system resources.

Accessing Background Apps Settings

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Click on "Apps" in the left-hand sidebar.
  3. Select "Background apps".

Disabling Unnecessary Background Apps

  1. Review the list of apps and toggle the switch to "Off" for any apps you don't need running in the background. Consider apps like news, weather, or other utilities that might be constantly updating.

Step 6: The Disk Doctor - Defragmentation and Optimization

While modern SSDs (Solid State Drives) don't need traditional defragmentation, they benefit from optimization (also known as TRIM). If you have a traditional HDD (Hard Disk Drive), defragmentation can still help.

Optimizing Drives

  1. Press the Windows key and type "defrag".
  2. Select "Defragment and Optimize Drives" from the search results.
  3. In the "Optimize Drives" window, you'll see a list of your drives and their media type.
  4. Select your system drive (usually C:).
  5. If it's an SSD, click "Optimize". This will send TRIM commands to the drive.
  6. If it's a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), click "Analyze" first. If the fragmentation is above 10%, click "Optimize". This process might take some time.

Step 7: The Power Play - Adjusting Power Settings

Your power plan can influence your PC's performance.

Accessing Power Options

  1. Press the Windows key and type "power plan".
  2. Select "Choose a power plan" from the search results.

Selecting a High-Performance Plan

  1. If you see a "High performance" option, select it. This plan prioritizes performance but may consume more energy.
  2. If you don't see it, click "Show additional plans".
  3. If you still don't see it, you can create one:
    1. Click "Create a power plan" on the left.
    2. Select "High performance" and give it a name.
    3. Click "Next" and configure the sleep and display settings as desired, then click "Create".

Step 8: The Digital Declutter - Uninstalling Unused Programs

Programs you no longer use are just taking up space and potentially running background processes.

Uninstalling Programs

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Click on "Apps" in the left-hand sidebar.
  3. Select "Installed apps".
  4. Scroll through the list and identify programs you don't need.
  5. Click the three dots (...) next to the program and select "Uninstall". Follow the on-screen prompts.

Step 9: The Malware Check - Ensuring a Clean System

Malware can severely impact your PC's performance. Running a scan is always a good idea.

Using Windows Security

  1. Press the Windows key and type "security".
  2. Select "Windows Security" from the search results.
  3. Click on "Virus & threat protection".
  4. Click "Quick scan" to perform a fast scan. For a more thorough check, click "Scan options" and select "Full scan", then click "Scan now". This might take some time.
  5. Follow any instructions to remove or quarantine any threats found.

Consider a Second Opinion

You might also consider running a scan with a reputable third-party anti-malware tool for an extra layer of security.

Step 10: The Fresh Start - Considering a Reset (Use with Caution)

If your PC is still sluggish after trying the above steps, a factory reset can sometimes be the most effective solution. However, this will erase your personal files, so make sure to back up everything important first!

Performing a Reset

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Click on "System" in the left-hand sidebar.
  3. Select "Recovery".
  4. Under "Reset this PC," click "Reset PC".
  5. You'll have two options: "Keep my files" (which removes apps and settings but keeps personal files) or "Remove everything" (which is a clean slate). Choose the option that suits you, keeping in mind that "Remove everything" is often more effective for performance issues.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.

Frequently Asked Questions: How To...

Here are some common questions related to speeding up Windows 11:

How to check my PC's RAM usage?

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Go to the "Performance" tab.
  3. Look for "Memory" to see your RAM usage.

How to disable unnecessary notifications?

  1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
  2. Click on "System" and then "Notifications".
  3. Toggle off notifications for apps you don't want to be bothered by.

How to free up disk space quickly?

  1. Use Storage Sense as described in Step 2.
  2. Uninstall unused programs (Step 8).
  3. Delete large files you no longer need.

How to update Windows 11?

  1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
  2. Click on "Windows Update".
  3. Click "Check for updates" and follow the instructions.

How to identify resource-hungry processes?

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. In the "Processes" tab, you can see which applications and background processes are using the most CPU, Memory, and Disk resources.

How to manage virtual memory (page file)?

  1. Press the Windows key and type "performance".
  2. Select "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows".
  3. Go to the "Advanced" tab and click "Change..." under "Virtual memory".
  4. It's generally recommended to let Windows manage the page file size automatically.

How to stop OneDrive from syncing automatically?

  1. Right-click on the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray.
  2. Click "Settings".
  3. Go to the "Account" tab and click "Unlink this PC". Follow the prompts.

How to check my internet speed?

  1. Open a web browser and search for "internet speed test".
  2. Use a reputable online speed test tool.

How to enable or disable fast startup?

  1. Press the Windows key and type "power plan".
  2. Select "Choose a power plan".
  3. Click "Choose what the power buttons do" on the left.
  4. Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable" at the top.
  5. Under "Shutdown settings," you can check or uncheck "Turn on fast startup (recommended)".

How to monitor my PC's hardware health?

  1. Windows has built-in tools like Performance Monitor and Resource Monitor (search for them in the Start menu).
  2. You can also use third-party hardware monitoring software.

Hopefully, these steps and answers will help you breathe new life into your Windows 11 PC! Remember that the impact of each tweak can vary depending on your system and how it's being used. Experiment and see what works best for you! Let me know if you have any more questions as you go through these steps.

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How To Make Pc Windows 11 Faster

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