Tips for speeding up a slow computer.
You've been putting up with that sluggish PC or laptop for way too long. Here are some helpful tips to get your computer running at optimal speed.
Update Windows 10 and your hardware drivers.
Updating Windows 10 can improve performance, increase security and add new features. While your system should be updating itself automatically, it’s a good idea to occasionally check if any updates are available. Open the "Start" menu and select "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Update." Click on "Check for updates" to see if updates can be run.
It’s also helpful to check for hardware driver updates (especially your video card, if you’re a gamer). Each manufacturer should have a driver download web page from which you can access the latest version, and we've provided links to many of them in "How to find drivers and updates."
It’s also helpful to check for hardware driver updates (especially your video card, if you’re a gamer). Each manufacturer should have a driver download web page from which you can access the latest version, and we've provided links to many of them in "How to find drivers and updates."
Check your internet speed.
If websites and games are loading slowly, or if video is buffering and stopping, it might not be a computer issue. Use our free Geek Squad broadband speed test to measure your internet performance. On this page, you'll also learn what your results mean and what speeds you'll need to game online or use multiple devices on your network.
If your wireless router is between 3 and 5 years old, you should think about updating to a new router, as they offer better technology, performance and security.
If your wireless router is between 3 and 5 years old, you should think about updating to a new router, as they offer better technology, performance and security.
Get rid of unneeded programs.
Give your system some breathing room by deleting programs you don't use. Open the "Start" menu and select "Settings" > "Apps" > "Apps & features" to see a full list of installed programs. Simply click on the ones you don't want and then click "Uninstall." You can sort the list by install date to see older programs that you might not have touched in years.
You can improve your computer start-up time by disabling the apps that you don't want to start automatically when you turn on your computer. Open the "Start" menu and select "Settings" > "Apps" > "Startup." From here, Windows 10 shows you whether disabling an app will have a low or high impact on your start-up speed. If you don't know what an app does, it's better to not turn it off. Also, don't disable an app if you need it to perform automatic actions in the background.
Keep your storage under control.
A full hard drive can definitely impact your system’s performance. Within Windows 10, you can use the Storage Sense app to automatically remove unneeded content and temporary system files in order to free up hard drive space. Open the "Start" menu and select "Settings" > "System" > "Storage." From here, you can free up space right away, and you can set Storage Sense to run automatically.
The Storage sense app can also save old files to an online OneDrive account to free up even more space. If you’d rather not store your files online, you can expand your storage by adding another hard disk drive (HDD). If you’re concerned about performance over storage, you can add a solid-state drive (SDD) to help your PC efficiently juggle data while you work on multiple tasks.
Scan for malicious software.
There's always the possibility that your computer’s sluggishness is caused by spyware, malware or viruses.
If you're using antivirus and internet security software from companies like Webroot or Trend Micro, they typically will be scanning your computer in the background. However, it's a good idea to open the program and check that it’s updating itself correctly. You should also manually run a full system scan once a month or so.
If you don't use one of those software products, you can run a scan using the security feature built into Windows 10. Open the "Start" menu and select "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Security" > "Virus & threat protection." From here, you can either run a "Quick scan" or click on "Scan options" to choose a more complete scan.
You can also download this free virus and spyware app from our website and run a scan.
