If your Windows 10 PC is slow, improve performance by: disabling startup programs, adjusting visual effects for best performance, running Disk Cleanup, defragmenting drives, updating system and drivers, scanning for malware, and optimizing virtual memory settings.

If your Windows 10 computer is running slowly, performance tuning can significantly improve responsiveness. Here are essential steps to speed it up:

The operating environment of this tutorial: Dell XPS 13, Windows 10 Pro

1. Disable Startup Programs

Too many programs launching at startup can slow down boot time and consume system resources. Disabling unnecessary startup apps helps reduce background load.

• Press Ctrl Shift Esc to open Task Manager.
• Go to the Startup tab.
• Select non-essential programs and click Disable.

2. Adjust Visual Effects for Best Performance

Windows 10 uses visual effects like animations and shadows that can impact performance on older or low-end hardware. Configuring the system to prioritize performance reduces graphical overhead.

• Type View advanced system settings in the Start menu and open it.
• Under the Advanced tab, click Settings in the Performance section.
• Select Adjust for best performance, or manually disable individual effects.

3. Run Disk Cleanup

Temporary files, cache, and system logs accumulate over time and occupy valuable disk space. Running Disk Cleanup removes these unnecessary files and frees up storage.

• Type Disk Cleanup in the Start menu and run it as administrator.
• Select the drive you want to clean (usually C:).
• Check boxes for file types to delete, such as Temporary files and Recycle Bin.
• Click OK and then Delete Files.

4. Defragment and Optimize Drives

Mechanical hard drives suffer from fragmentation over time, which slows data access. Regular defragmentation reorganizes fragmented data for faster retrieval.

• Type Defragment and Optimize Drives in the Start menu and open it.
• Select your drive and click Analyze to check fragmentation level.
• If needed, click Optimize. For SSDs, this runs TRIM instead of defragmentation.

5. Update Windows and Drivers

Outdated system files and drivers can cause performance bottlenecks or compatibility issues. Installing the latest updates ensures optimal system stability and efficiency.

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
• Click Check for updates and install all available updates.
• Visit your device manufacturer’s website to update critical drivers like chipset, graphics, and network adapters.

6. Scan for Malware and Viruses

Malicious software can run hidden processes that consume CPU, memory, and network resources. A full system scan helps detect and remove such threats.

• Open Windows Security from the Start menu.
• Go to Virus & threat protection.
• Choose Full scan under Scan options and run it.
• Follow prompts to quarantine or remove detected items.

7. Increase Virtual Memory

When physical RAM is insufficient, Windows uses virtual memory on the hard drive. Improperly sized virtual memory can hinder performance. Adjusting it can help maintain system responsiveness under heavy loads.

• Search for View advanced system settings and open it.
• Under the Advanced tab, click Settings in Performance.
• Go to the Advanced tab, then click Change under Virtual Memory.
• Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size.
• Select Custom size and set Initial (MB) to 1.5 times your RAM and Maximum to 3 times.
• Click Set, then restart the computer.

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