Not everyone is happy with the performance of Windows 11 on their devices. If you are one of those unsatisfied or disappointed customers, here are some tips to make Windows 11 faster and optimize Windows 11 features.
Windows 11 has an updated interface, a “Start” menuStart and a customizable taskbar, and a myriad of features. But what many users were probably most looking forward to was performance improvements, achieved through better disk utilization, memory management, and other resource tweaks to help machines running Windows 11 enjoy faster operations.
Why is Windows 11 slow?
Before we jump into tips and tricks to make Windows 11 faster, let’s take a look at some reasons why its performance might not be up to par on your computer in the first place. If you find yourself asking, “Why does Windows 11 feel slow?”, the answer might include:
- You might be using an old or fragmented device that Windows 11 might not support, making your computer almost unusable
- Your computer’s specs are low and unable to support snappy performance
- You haven’t kept up with Windows or driver updates that are causing your computer to crash or slow down
- Your RAM is running low, causing poor performance
- You are running out of disk space
- You have too many apps loading on startup
- Viruses and malware are invading your system
- You have a slower Hard Disk Drive (HDD) instead of a faster Solid State Drive (SSD)
- You are running corrupt or improperly installed Windows software
Tips to speed up Windows 11
If you are not satisfied with the performance of Windows 11, here are some tips to speed it up. While some tips might seem super simple, you’ll be surprised how many people overlook them and the wonders they can do with minimal effort:
Restart your computer
Restarting your computer is a quick way to clear out the cobwebs and get Windows 11 running faster. It might not be the best long-term solution if you continue to have issues, but many find that simply restarting their computers results in a less sluggish Windows 11. This helps because, over time, resources continue to get used up. This is especially true for programs like internet browsers, which are notorious for memory leaks, where the longer an application runs, the more resources (i.e., RAM and processing power) it takes up. Restarting the system helps release the grip that these “resource hogs” have on your memory.
Scan for malware
Your computer’s specs might be up to the task of handling Windows 11, but malware and viruses could be lurking beneath the surface and compromising performance. If you haven’t already, run an antivirus scan using antivirus software to see what’s going on. Make sure to update your antivirus definitions before running a scan to ensure you’re protected from the latest threats.
Give your computer room to breathe
Is your CPU really struggling with little room around it? If so, it might have a hard time “breathing” and need more space around it so that hot air can be appropriately released. Although most modern computers combat temperature spikes, you might find that getting your computer out of a cramped environment prevents heat buildup that can slow down performance and make Windows 11 feel much slower than it should be.
Get rid of unnecessary files
As mentioned, one possible reason for slow Windows 11 performance could be that your computer is running low on hard drive space. To free up space and unlock speed, delete files you no longer need. Examples of unnecessary files that take up space and negatively affect performance include compressed files you’ve already extracted and configuration files used to install apps. The same goes for temporary files.
You can increase Windows 11 speed by deleting temporary files. To do this, click the Start button and select the Settings option. Click on System, followed by Storage. Next, click on Temporary files and choose what you want to get rid of. Finish the process by clicking Remove files. By deleting temporary files like internet history, cookies, and cache, you can free up space on your hard drive and hopefully see faster Windows 11 performance.
Delete unneeded apps
It’s likely that your computer has some apps you never use or never wanted to install in the first place (aka bloatware). Get rid of these apps, and you can free up more space on your hard drive and achieve better Windows 11 speeds.
To remove unneeded apps, click the Start button and select Settings. Next, click on Apps in the left pane, followed by Apps & features. Once you see the list of apps on your computer, click the three vertical dots next to any you want to get rid of. Select Uninstall to remove them from your computer, following the instructions for each app.
Update Windows 11
Slow performance may not be your computer’s fault. Instead, it could be an issue triggered by a Windows 11 bug. Once Microsoft finds a fix, you can install the latest patch, so your version of Windows 11 is up-to-date, bug-free, and as fast as possible.
To check for a Windows 11 update, head to Settings on your computer. In the left pane, click on Windows Update. Next, click Check for updates. Your computer will tell you if you are up-to-date. If not, it will find new updates and install them. Restart your computer once the updates are installed, and hopefully, you should see an improvement in speed.
Reduce your startup apps
If you have a lot of apps set to turn on when your computer starts, this can hinder your performance. A simple way to improve Windows 11 performance is to be more selective with startup apps.
You can reduce the number of startup apps by clicking the Start button. Next, select Settings and then Apps. From the Apps menu, click Startup. From there, choose which apps you want to have on Startup. For best results, set only a minimal number of apps to On so that your computer doesn’t bog down on startup.
Reduce your startup programs
With your startup apps minimized, now it’s time to do the same with programs. Click the Start button, then select Task Manager. Next, click the Startup tab. If you see programs you don’t want to launch on startup, toggle them from Enabled to Disabled. By having fewer items set to launch at startup, you should see a faster boot time with Windows 11.
Select a high-performance power plan
You can unlock more powerful performance on your PC for a faster Windows 11 by doing the following. First, click the Start. In the search bar, type “power plan” without the quotes. Then, click on Choose a power plan. On the Choose or customize a power plan page, select High performance. Then, click on Change plan settings. On the next page, click on Change advanced power settings. Under Processor power management, you’ll want to set both the Minimum processor state and Maximum processor state to 100%.
Disable Visual Effects
Visual effects can provide a more engaging experience when you use your computer, but they can also negatively impact performance and make Windows 11 a chore to use, especially on older PCs. Turn off visual effects, and you can reduce the load on your GPU by around 20 percent for a faster Windows 11 experience.
To do this, press the Windows key. In the search bar, type “view advanced” without the quotes. Then, select View advanced system settings and click on the Advanced tab. On the Advanced tab under the Performance, select Settings. On the Performance Options, click Adjust for best performance. Finally, under the Custom List, click these two options so that they have a check mark next to them:
- Show thumbnails instead of icons
- Smooth edges of screen fonts
Click Apply, followed by OK, to save your changes and speed up Windows 11.
Pubblicato in Digital Tools
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