How to Speed Up Your Computer

Frustrated by a slow PC? Use these 10 methods to speed up your Windows computer. Even if you’ve used a Codecademy discount code on Reddit and learned how to code, you can’t use you computer very well because it’s incredibly slow. Use these tips to speed it up.

1. Uninstall Unused Programs

Over months and years, adding new apps and programs can eat up all your PC memory. Even having shortcuts on your desktop uses a little bit of memory.

Having unused programs installed on your computer can slow down your computer’s performance and eat up valuable storage space. The most effective thing you can do to improve your computer’s speed is remove programs you no longer need or use.

2. Disable Startup Programs

Many programs automatically start when your computer boots up. All these programs end up slowing down your computer’s startup time. What to do? You can disable these programs by using the task manager.

3. Clear Temporary Files:

Temporary files and cache data accumulate over time and slow down your computer. What’s amazing is that Windows actually has a built-in disk cleanup tool (that’s pretty effective) to remove these files and free up space.

4. Run a Virus Scan

Malware and viruses cause your computer to run slowly. What’s more, they can completely destroy your PC in some cases. Run regular scans to keep your PC protect. It’s a good idea to schedule regular scans so you don’t have to keep manually running them. Reminder: keep your antivirus software up-to-date as these viruses are evolving all the time.

5. Update Drivers:

Outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues and slow down your computer. Keep your drivers up-to-date by checking for updates on the manufacturer’s website.

6. Add More RAM:

Random Access Memory (RAM) helps your computer run smoothly by allowing it to store and access information quickly. Adding more RAM can greatly improve your computer’s speed and performance.

7. Install a solid-state drive (SSD):

Have an HDD? Time to upgrade! Hard disk drives (HDD) can be slow and have limited storage space. Installing a solid-state drive (SSD) can greatly improve your computer’s speed and increase storage capacity.

Disable visual effects:

Adding snappy visual effects like fade are cool, but all these effects consume memory and, if you have a lot of them, add up to a slow computer. Visual effects can consume valuable resources and slow down your computer. You can disable these effects by accessing the performance options in your computer’s control panel.

Upgrade your graphics card:

A graphics card is responsible for rendering images and videos. If you are having trouble with graphics performance, upgrading your graphics card can greatly improve the speed of your computer.

Regular maintenance:

Regular maintenance tasks, such as defragmenting your hard drive and cleaning your registry, can improve your computer’s speed and stability. Use built-in tools or third-party software to regularly maintain your computer and keep it running smoothly.

Go Back to a Previous Restore Point

Unlike life, you can take your PC back to a time when it was fast. These snapshots of your PC will restore the computer, more or less, to exactly how it was 1, 2, or however many years ago. The caveat: your PC’s hardware has still aged over that time, so it’s not a pure fountain of youth for your computer.