If your Windows 10 machine feels sluggish sometimes, you’re not alone. It happens to pretty much everyone after a while — programs start taking longer to load, the desktop hangs a bit, and boot times drag on. The good news? There are plenty of tweaks and cleanup tricks that can breathe some life back into that old beast. This guide covers practical steps to optimize performance, from trimming startup bloat to freeing up disk space. Think of it like giving your PC a little tune-up, and sometimes, just knowing where to look makes all the difference.
How to Make Your PC Faster on Windows 10
Before diving into each fix, it’s good to understand that most of these steps are about removing clutter, switching some settings, and making sure everything’s up-to-date. It’s kind of funny — Windows has so many options, yet it often defaults to settings that prioritize convenience over raw power. The result? A slowpoke. But with these tweaks, you’ll hopefully see a quicker, more responsive machine. On some setups, certain fixes work immediately; on others, you might need a reboot or a bit of patience to see the full effect.
Disable Startup Programs to Speed Boot Time
This is usually the first thing to check. You’re probably surprised how many apps sneak in at startup and just sit there, auto-launching every time you power on. To access this, right-click the Taskbar, select Task Manager (or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and switch to the Startup tab. From there, disable anything that seems unnecessary — especially anything you don’t need immediately when Windows boots. This can cut down your boot time quite a bit. Just don’t turn off your antivirus or essential drivers, or your system might become unstable.
In my experience, some programs might disagree and enable themselves again after updates. So, it’s worth double-checking after major Windows updates or new installations.
Clean Up Disk Space with Disk Cleanup
Over time, your drive gets cluttered with temp files, logs, old setup files, and other junk. Windows has a built-in tool called Disk Cleanup that’s dead simple to use. Just type Disk Cleanup in Search, select your main drive (typically C:), and let it scan. It’ll suggest files you can delete — check the options like temporary files, system cache, and even older Windows update files if you’re sure you don’t need them. Clearing this out can boost performance, especially if your drive is getting full.
Sometimes, running Disk Cleanup on a regular basis (monthly-ish) keeps things tidy, especially if you install a bunch of programs or browsers create cache. The process is straightforward, but on one machine, it failed to free up much space initially — a reboot usually helps in those cases.
Switch Your Power Plan to High Performance
Windows defaults to a balanced or power saver mode that’s good for conserving energy but not so great if you want speed. Go to Settings > System > Power & Sleep, then click Additional power settings on the right. Here, select High Performance. If it’s not visible, click on Create a power plan and choose High Performance. This tells Windows to prioritize performance over power savings, which can make a noticeable difference especially during gaming or heavy multitasking.
On certain laptops, this might drain the battery faster, but on desktops or plugged-in systems, it’s a quick win.
Update Windows and Drivers for Better Performance
Outdated drivers and system files can cause hiccups — like slowdowns or weird bugs. Check for Windows updates in Settings > Update & Security. Also, it’s worth visiting your hardware manufacturer’s site for the latest drivers (graphics card, network adapters, etc.).For some, this is a game-changer; for others, just a way to fix bugs or improve compatibility.
Pro tip: use Device Manager to see if any driver’s showing an exclamation mark, indicating problems. Sometimes, driver updates are the only fix to stubborn slowdowns or hardware issues.
Remove Unused Software to Free Resources
If your system is cluttered with old games, trial software, or apps you no longer use, uninstall them via Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program. Not only do these apps eat up disk space, but they can also run background processes or interfere with other software. Cleaning this out can really lighten the load, especially on older machines with limited resources.
Just be cautious about what you remove — double-check if you’re not uninstalling critical programs or drivers. Clearing out some of the bigger space hogs can make a surprising impact on overall responsiveness.
Additional Tips to Keep Windows 10 Fast
- Regularly defrag your HDD if you’re still using a mechanical drive. This isn’t needed if you’ve got an SSD (which doesn’t need defragmenting).
- Run a quick antivirus scan — malware can slow things down without obvious signs.
- Limit fancy effects—go to Control Panel > Performance Options > Visual Effects and choose Adjust for best performance.
- Upgrade hardware — more RAM or a faster SSD can make a huge difference if your PC’s older or underpowered.
- Switching to an SSD (if you haven’t already) is the fastest upgrade around. Boot times and program loads become almost instant.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which startup programs to disable?
Look for apps you recognize and don’t use immediately. Avoid turning off anything from Microsoft or hardware stuff unless you know what you’re doing — messing with drivers or security software can backfire.
Will switching to High Performance boost my electricity bill?
Not significantly. The increased power draw isn’t enough to worry about unless you’re running on a laptop battery constantly on high performance mode.
How often should I run Disk Cleanup?
Monthly is a good rule of thumb. If you install a lot of programs or surf a lot, maybe do it more often.
Is it safe to uninstall old software?
Most of the time, yes. Just avoid removing anything you’re not familiar with unless you’re sure it’s not critical. Creating a system restore point before uninstalling can’t hurt.
What if my drivers are outdated?
Use Device Manager or visit the manufacturer’s website for updates. Sometimes new drivers fix performance issues or add stability, especially for graphics cards or network adapters.
Summary
- Disable unnecessary startup programs.
- Clean up disk space regularly with Disk Cleanup.
- Adjust your power plan to ‘High Performance’ when plugged in.
- Keep Windows and drivers updated.
- Uninstall unused or old software.
Wrap-up
Speeding up your Windows 10 isn’t about pretending to be a tech wizard; it’s mainly about cleaning out the junk, tweaking a few settings, and doing some regular maintenance. Sometimes, just knocking out these basic things makes the whole PC feel snappier, especially if it’s been a while. If hardware is pretty old, upgrades like SSDs or more RAM are the real game changers. Either way, a little effort can go a long way towards keeping things smooth. Fingers crossed this helps make your system feel a bit fresher — worked for a bunch of setups, so hopefully, it’ll do the same for yours.