20 Tips to Speed up Windows 10 Performance

Windows 10 with all its shiny armor will make you amazed in just a few seconds. But all that special features, updates and tweaks can become a headache for you if you’re running it on an older machine. I know that mine got slow after some time and it was annoying. I mean who wants a slow computer, right?

But all the features are too irresistible. So, how can we speed up the performance of Windows 10? Do you want to know? Let’s find out.

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Cut the Crap

Disable Startup Apps

Notice the apps that start along with the system? Yeah, that is a huge cause of making your PC slow. The apps tend to slow down the boot-up process. So, once you disable all the unnecessary apps, the performance will improve. For that you have to:

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  • After that, click the Startup tab to check the list of startup programs.
  • Then, right-click and select Disable on programs you only occasionally or ever rarely use.

Tips to Speed up Windows 10 Performance

Uninstall Bloatware

Uh! I hate those. All those unwanted software’s always making my PC run slow. This is one of the biggest factors that any windows based system starts getting slower. They would just take up memory spaces unnecessarily and make other apps run slower.

That’s why you must remove the bloatware to speed up the performance of windows 10.

To remove bloatware or apps, you don’t use, follow these steps:

  • Right-click Start. Then go to Control Panel.
  • Select Programs. And after that, Programs and Features.
  • Select Uninstall/Change to remove unwanted programs, do it one at a time.
  • Follow the instructions in the dialogue boxes to uninstall the software.

Uninstall Bloatware in Windows 10

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Clean Up the Disk

After using your computer for some time, it gets filled with lots of useless data that lodges space. These can be a headache as they cause a huge amount of performance degradation of windows 10. That’s why you need to get rid of them.

You have to run Disk Cleanup to free up space on your system, and for that, you need to perform these steps:

  • Click Start and then go to File Explorer. After that click This PC.
  • On the right side, under Devices and Drives, select the Local Disk (C 🙂 and then click and choose the last option Properties from the context menu.
  • Then, switch to the General tab and under Capacity, click on Disk Cleanup
  • After the tool completes scanning your system for removable files, you can select the category of files you wish to delete and click OK to remove them.

Tips to Speed up Windows 10 Performance

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Uninstall Fonts and Drivers

There are lots of hardware drivers and fonts that load and use resources causing a delay in system startup. Therefore, if you don’t use them, remove them. Your PC will be much better without them.

You can follow these steps:

  • Right-Click Start menu and then select Device Manager to launch the window.
  • Find the hardware that you want to uninstall, then right-click on the same and select Uninstall.
  • Check the option Delete the driver software for this device and click delete.

Tips to Speed up Windows 10 Performance

For removing fonts, follow these below steps:

  • Right-Click Start and choose Control Panel.
  • Select Category in View by and then choose
  • Select the fonts you don’t use and then click on the Delete button to delete them.

Disable Background Apps

Some apps run in the background, and they take system resources and heat up the PC. So, it’s better to disable them and start them when you need them. This will help you to speed up the system performance.

Follow these following steps to turn off background-running apps:

  • Firstly, select the Start button and go to
  • Click Privacy, go to the last option in the left panel called Background apps.
  • Switch off the toggles to turn off background apps you don’t need or use.

Disable Background Apps in Windows 10

Disable Background Services

There are lots of background services always running and slowing down the PC. So, it would be best if you disable them. It will speed things up for your computer.

Just follow the steps below:

  • Type msc in the Start menu’s search field and open the Services tool.
  • After that, double-click each of the services you wish to disable and for their Startup type, select Disabled or Manual per your usage.

Tips to Speed up Windows 10 Performance

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Optimize Windows 10

Defragment the Drive

All your disks get fragmented over time, and it causes windows for time to fetch any data as they are all spread all over the disk. This leads to slower performance and sometimes disk failure! Oh! We wouldn’t want that, would we?

So what can we do? We can defragment the disks that will clean the disks of fragmentation and speed up the performance of your PC.

To defragment, follow these steps:

  • Click Start and go to File Explorer.
  • Select the Local Disk ( C: ) and then right-click and choose Properties.
  • Click the Tools tab, look under Optimize and Defragment drive and click the Optimize button to open the Optimize Drives tool.
  • When you’re in the Optimize Drives tool, select the drives, one by one, and click on Optimize button for defragmenting each of the hard disk drives.

Defragment the Drive in Windows 10

Turn on Fast Startup

This is a cool option. It helps in starting your PC faster after a shutdown by cutting down on boot-up time. But remember as it doesn’t affect the restart process.

Follow these steps to enable Fast Startup option in Windows 10:

  • Right-Click Start and go to bring up the context menu and select Control Panel.
  • Then, click Hardware and Sound and look under Power Options in a new window.
  • Click on the link Change what the power buttons do.
  • Now click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
  • After that, tick the box next to Turn on fast startup (recommended).
  • Click the Save changes button to enable the same.

Tips to Speed up Windows 10 Performance

Optimize Virtual Memory

If you have a low RAM, it’s going to get difficult to run Windows 10 smoothly. Well, you can always upgrade the RAM, but it’s going to cost you some money. So, if you don’t want to pay the extra bucks, then you need to allocate more virtual memory. Though windows 10 control the feature but manually setting the options will end in better performance.

Follow these steps:

  • Right-Click the Start menu, select Control Panel and then choose the option System and Security.
  • After that click System in the window, then choose Advanced system settings option from the left panel.
  • In the new window, click the Advanced tab and then click the Settings button located under Performance.
  • Now, select the Advanced tab in the new window and click on the Change
  • In the new window, uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
  • Select the C: drive and then click the radio button for Custom size
  • Now, this is the tricky part, set the Initial size (MB) to the size of your RAM and Maximum size (MB) to double the size of your RAM (for example if your RAM is 4GB then initial will be 4000MB and maximum will be 8000MB.
  • After doing all the things, click the Set button, and then you’re done.

Optimize Virtual Memory in Windows 10

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Customize File Explorer Options

The File Explorer has some options that you can disable for speeding up the performances. Once you disable the unrequired options, the overall performance of your Windows improves and gives you a smooth experience.

So if you want a better experience then follow these steps:

  • Click Start, select File Explorer and then click the View
  • Click on Options button and click on Change folder and search options.
  • A Folder Options dialogue box should open, select the View tab and uncheck the following options under Advanced settings:
  • Always show icons, never thumbnails.
  • Display file icon on thumbnails.
  • Display file size information in folder tips.
  • Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color.
  • Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items.
  • Show preview handlers in the preview pane.

Under the same Advanced settings, check the following options:

  • Hide empty drives.
  • Hide extensions for known file types.
  • Hide folder merge conflicts.
  • Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
  • Click OK to save the configuration changes.

Tips to Speed up Windows 10 Performance

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Best Practices to Speedup Windows

Minimise Browsers’ Load

The extensions and add-ons on your browser slow down your browsers’ performance and overall system resources. So, always try to avoid installing too much add-on’s. So, if you want to speed up the performance you better disable add-ons that you rarely use or don’t use at all.

If you use Chrome, then here’s what you have to do:

  • Click the ≡ icon located at the top-right corner of the browser window.
  • After that, select More tools and then go to
  • Uncheck Enabled for every extension you want to disable. You can also click the trash can icon to uninstall it completely

Minimize Browsers’ Load in Windows 10

If you use Mozilla, then here’s what you have to do:

  • Click the ≡ icon at the top-right corner of the browser window.
  • Click Add-ons to open the Add-ons Manager tool.
  • Then select Extensions from the left sidebar to view the list.
  • Click on the Disable button for the add-ons you wish to disable temporarily or click Remove button to uninstall the add-ons completely.

See, so easy!

Use Performance Monitor

There is a useful feature of Windows 10 that you can use for monitoring the performance. It’s called Performance Monitor. It will give you details of system and hardware resources, and one of the best things is that it will suggest solutions for the problems. Cool, right?

Just follow these steps for real-time monitoring tool:

  • Type Performance Monitor in the Start menu‘s search box and search for it. Click the first result to launch the Performance Monitor
  • After that select the last option Reports on the left, then System and then System Diagnostics
  • The tool will give you all the information after requesting for it and produce a detailed report.

Use Performance Monitor for Windows 10

There should be a Warning section for finding out the issues on your PC. Use Windows 10’s Troubleshooter or search the web to find the solution. It’s easy and straightforward.

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Use CCleaner Regularly

CCleaner helps in keeping your PC clean from unnecessary temporary and junk data that increases file fragments and slow down the system. So, you should get rid of them on a daily basis.

It’s a great way to find and delete temporary and unneeded files, just follow these steps:

  • Firstly download and install the CCleaner tool from its download page if you don’t have it already.
  • Launch CCleaner tool and then choose the Cleaner.
  • Select the things you want to clean and click Run Cleaner.

Tips to Speed up Windows 10 Performance

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High-Performance Mode

To overcome this issue, use the power saving mode when it’s running on battery and go for a high-performance mode when it’s connected to a power socket. If you have to use this mode, then try to use it only on battery. That way you’ll have the best performance on AC power.

For changing power options to high-performance mode, do this:

  • Got to the Start button and select the Control Panel, then click on System and Security.
  • Select Power Options and choose High performance.

Tips to Speed up Windows 10 Performance

Fine-Tuning Windows OS

Disable Effects & Animations

The effects and animation that we so much like about Windows 10 is slowing down your PC. But if you’re running a high configured PC this might not affect you. But, for older PCs, the animations can be a bitch. So, if you want to speed things up in Windows 10 you just have to disable them. There’s just no other choice. For that you’ll have to:

  • Right-Click Start button then go to System.
  • Then, select the last option on the left, Advanced system settings.
  • After that, switch to the Advanced tab and click Settings under Performance.
  • Under Visual Effects, choose the option to Adjust for best performance, or you could also select Custom and uncheck all the check boxes.

Disable Effects & Animations in Windows 10

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Turn off Dynamic Color Adaptation

The dynamic color adaptation automatically picks the color from your wallpaper and matched the color scheme of your interface. Good feature but it’s quite unnecessary. It increases the resources usage leading to an overall degradation of performance.

Just disable it following the steps:

  • Click on the Start button and select
  • Select Personalization located in the left sidebar, then select Colors.
  • Toggle off Automatically pick an accent color from my background.

Turn off Dynamic Color Adaptation in Windows 10

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Disable Search Indexing

Search indexing improves the search tools responses. It speeds up the overall searching in windows 10. However, it always runs in the background and slows down the performance. So, if you don’t search often then you should probably disable it.

Just follow the steps to disable it:

  • Firstly, right-click Start menu and then go to Computer Management.
  • After that double-click on Services and Applications and go to Services.
  • In the services list, look for Windows Search and double-click it.
  • There will be a new window, for Startup type, select Manual or Disabled and then click the OK button to save your changes.

Tips to Speed up Windows 10 Performance

Turn off Windows Tips

Windows 10’s tips may be of help to the newbies, but the experienced ones don’t need them. So, disable them to avoid unnecessary problems.

Follow the steps to turn off tips feature:

  • Go to the Start button, go to Settings.
  • Select System and from the left pane, select Notifications & actions.
  • Toggle off the option Show me tips about Windows. And you’re good to go.

Turn off Windows Tips in Windows 10

Disable Sync Feature

This feature syncs things like passwords, browser settings, and system and language preferences and much more with your Microsoft account. Thus, consuming resources and slowing down the computer. If you don’t need it, you can always disable it.

Perform these steps to disable sync:

  • Click on the Start and then Settings. After that, go to Accounts option.
  • In the left pane, select the last option Sync your settings.
  • Toggle off the Sync settings.

Disable Sync Feature in Windows 10

Reset your PC

If none of the above tips helps you to fix the performance, then you’re in trouble. Just kidding, you’ll just have to reset your system. Resetting will give a fresh start. Don’t worry your files will be safe but you won’t find your software and configurations.

Do these steps to reset your PC:

  • Open the Start menu and go to Setting. Next, go to Update & Security.
  • After that, select Recovery in the left pane.
  • Under Reset this PC, click the Get started button to begin the process.

Reset your PC


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Well, that was all the possible tips and tricks to speed up a Windows 10 Performance. It should speed up the performance as it did with mine. Though Windows 10 has adds a slick look to your PC, but still, it can slow down if you have an older system.

But if none of the above works for you then I don’t think Windows 10 is at fault here. It’s time for you to get a new PC or check the hardware for any defects.

7 thoughts on “20 Tips to Speed up Windows 10 Performance”

  1. Your tips to speed up your desktop are very useful but should contain a couple of caveats.

    The most common tip is to clear out the crud clogging your hard drive with something like CCleaner. But you should warn that unless you know what you are doing, you will delete all your cookies. Cookies are important and are tiny so don’t need clearing out. Cookies hold inportant information such as your login and password details for all the sites you visit. Delete them and you will have to figure out which name and password you’d last used for that site! A PITA if ever there was one.

    A bigger gotcha is the Reset Your Pc tip. Despite the wording on the screen, this will delete ALL the software you have installed. Keeping “all your files” simply refers to your documents and Apps obtained from the App Store.

    Reply
    • It’s mentioned on the article that all of your software will be deleted in a PC reset.

      As for the Cookies, well, having to type in your username and password for each website that you visit again is indeed tedious work. But, completely relying on the saved forms for remembering your passwords, is something that I would not recommend. You should remember your passwords or save them somewhere else if you can’t remember them just to be on the safe side.

      Reply
  2. (1) For newbies who have SSDs, I think that you should mention that they should not defragment.
    (2) A question about fonts. Suppose I disable a font, say Open Sans and I want to copy a file that is in Opens Sans. What happens? I stick to Arial and Times New Roman 98% of the time but other people don’t.

    Reply
    • Windows should detect that you’re using a Solid State Drive. Cause when it does, it won’t defragment it.

      As for fonts, I’m not quite sure about Windows. I had disabled some fonts on my Android phone when I was messing around with it and now I get question marks in the place of these fonts. I suppose that the same will apply on Windows?

      Reply
  3. Hi tried the fixmypc earlier today and this what happened I paid for it after i ran it and it corupted my PC completly and I had to restore from an image disk from outside windows It has taken me 3 hours to get backup and running.
    I enjoy your posts and this the first time I have had anything like this hppen.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  4. Hey There,

    Quite an indepth article.
    One thing which I felt using any operating system is that browsers eats alot of ram and end up slowing down the device.
    I often use JRT to get rid of junk files and cache. I have also switched to Mozilla Firefox from Chrome.
    Chrome is a RAM hungry predator. I have 8GB RAM and if I have 3-4 windows open with multiple tabs you will end up reloading some.
    Where as Firefox promises to be less RAM hungry and fast. After using it for almost a month. I can say it holds up to it promises.
    Defragmangting the disks is also very good.
    Thanks for the extensive article.
    Keep up the good work 🙂

    Reply

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