Even with the best hardware, computers will start to slow down over time. Fortunately, you don’t need to buy a new computer to fix this problem—a few simple software and hardware tweaks can make your PC run faster than ever.
Remove any programs that you don’t use from the startup list, such as bloatware or system tools that take up space and resources. Also, regularly clean up temporary and junk files.
1. Clear Cache
While cache files help to speed up website loads, over time, they can become full of old garbage files, causing your device and browsers to slow down. They also take up a lot of storage space, which is why clearing them should be done regularly.
Cache can also cause websites and apps to display errors or behave unpredictably. Clearing it can solve those issues, but not always, so consider snoozing instead of cleaning the cache. It’s also a good idea to clear your browser history as well.
2. Clear History
It’s essential to know how to clear your cache and history regularly. It not only improves performance but also helps safeguard your privacy.
Over time, your browser accumulates cached data and cookies that slow down performance and can even be a threat to your privacy. Clearing this information regularly protects you against hackers, viruses, and more. Typically, you can choose the amount of data that gets cleared and over what timeframe. You can also select specific elements that you want to keep.
3. Clear Cookies
Cookies and cache can help speed up a computer, but they can also accumulate and cause sluggish performance. Regularly clearing cookies and cache can help keep your computer running smoothly.
Browser cookies can store login information, browsing history, and personalised settings. Clearing them regularly can help you maintain performance and privacy. However, be aware that clearing cookies can log you out of websites and remove personalized settings. So, weigh up the pros and cons based on your specific needs.
4. Clear Temporary Files
When a computer becomes sluggish, it is often due to unwanted temporary and junk files. These files take up storage space and slow down system performance.
When these files are not deleted automatically, they become permanent and bog down your PC’s processing speed. They can even lead to glitches in apps or websites.
Locating and clearing these files manually can be a lengthy process, but dedicated computer cleaner programs make the job fast and simple. Regularly utilizing these optimization tools helps free up disk space and improve overall system performance.
5. Disk Defragmentation
If your hard drive is a traditional one, defragmenting it can make things faster. Defragmentation helps it find files more easily by putting them in contiguous sections rather than scattering them all over the hard drive.
Files become fragmented as they are saved, deleted, or modified. They may not fit into available gaps in the hard drive, causing them to be broken up and stored in different locations. The Windows Disk Defragmenter rearranges this data to improve performance and reduce read/write times. This process can take a long time, so it’s best to run it overnight or during downtime.
6. Disable Autostart
Many programs start automatically at startup, and if they’re not necessary, they can slow down your PC. Disabling the unnecessary ones will help your computer start faster and run more smoothly.
This is especially important on older computers with less memory. By disabling unnecessary startup programs, you can save a lot of RAM.
In Windows, open the System Configuration utility (msconfig on older versions of Windows). Find the apps you want to prevent from running at startup and click the minus button. Then, restart your computer. You should notice a significant speed boost.
7. Disable Background Tasks
Many apps run in the background and use resources that could be better spent on something else. Disabling these unnecessary processes can give your computer a significant performance boost.
Background processes can hog CPU cycles, gobble up memory, and cause your device to lag. Fortunately, there are several ways to disable these tasks without sacrificing functionality. To begin, you can use Task Manager to identify high-resource-usage processes and then terminate them. However, you should be careful not to end essential system programs. This can destabilize your system.
8. Turn Off Unnecessary Programs
It’s a good idea to keep a close eye on your computer’s processes. However, you shouldn’t close any processes on your own unless you know what they do for your PC and have a reason to do so (like they’re causing problems).
Keeping the desktop organized can cut down RAM usage, as the computer won’t have to load every icon. Also, using a high-performance power plan can improve performance if your computer is running slowly. But be careful – you could end up damaging your computer by overdoing it.
9. Upgrade Your RAM
Whether you’re a casual user seeking smoother multitasking capabilities or a gaming enthusiast who wants to experience a more responsive system, upgrading your computer’s RAM can help. However, when installing RAM, be careful of static electricity, as it can damage your computer’s components.
To determine if you need more memory, use built-in tools (on Windows systems, open the Task Manager or click the “Performance” tab; on Macs, select About This Mac). If your computer continues to slow down, try Norton Utilities Ultimate to eliminate junk files and unnecessary programs.
10. Install a Solid-State Drive
Unlike traditional hard drives, SSDs have no moving parts, making them quieter and efficient. They also have faster read and write speeds than HDDs, resulting in much quicker boot times, application loads, and overall system performance.
If you are comfortable tinkering with your computer hardware, installing a solid-state drive is a fairly straightforward do-it-yourself project. First, make sure you ground yourself to prevent static electricity (an anti-static wrist strap can help) and unplug your laptop or desktop PC.
Next, locate an available SSD bay and attach the SATA data connector on the motherboard to the back of the SSD. Be sure the connectors are aligned and secure before tightening.
