But don’t worry. That’s what we’re here for. 

We will take a look at some of the ways on how you can make your PC run faster. Some of the tips we’ll be sharing are perennial solutions in the Windows performance game, and some of them are newer, but all of them can help you. 

1. Replace the hard drive

If your laptop is running slow, maybe it’s time to upgrade your hard drive. Different mechanical hard drives have different speeds. Upgrading from one to another may help speed up your laptop a bit. But if you want a significant boost, consider upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD).

 

SSDs run faster than even the most expensive high-end hard drives. You also don’t need to defrag them to keep them fast. However, the most notable downside to SSDs is that they are more expensive and generally have less storage than traditional hard drives. 

If you really need a lot of storage, you can combine an SSD for your operating system and other programs and a large hard drive for your files. This way, you get a speed boost and enough storage at the same time.

However, do make sure that you have the right existing hardware before upgrading to SSD. If your computer has outdated hardware, adding an SSD won’t do you any good. In fact, it will just be a waste of money.

2. Free up internal storage

Modern versions of Windows defrag your hard drive for you. But if you’ve just copied large files into your computer, you can manually run the disk defragmenter tool, as those files may not yet be defragmented. Perform a scan and run the defrag program to get things started.

However, do take note that SSDs don’t require traditional defragmentation. In fact, you shouldn’t defrag your SSD at all as it can cause unnecessary wear and tear that can significantly reduce its lifespan.

3. Check the task manager

In some cases, the culprit behind the slowdown of your PC is a high-resource program running in the background. You can check the Task Manager to find out which programs are bogging down your system. 

 

The fastest way to get to your Task Manager is by right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Task Manager. From there, you can see which programs are using which resources. If you’re not using certain programs, and they’re eating up memory or other resources, you can manually close them, or you can right-click them on the Task Manager and hit “End Task.”

4. Uninstall unused programs

You may not realize how much space your programs are taking on your PC. Uninstalling some of the applications you don’t use—especially the big ones—can help make your PC run faster. Even if you do use them once in a while, it may be better to reinstall them only when you need them.

Go to “Control Panel>Programs>Programs and Features” to uninstall a program. Go through your list of installed programs and decide which ones to keep and which ones to delete. If you’re not sure which is which, you can use a tool like PC Decrapifier to help you determine what to remove. But if you’re still not sure, better ask the experts before deleting anything. You don’t want to delete something important accidentally, right? 

5. Upgrade the RAM

If you’ve tried all the free system tweaks, but your computer still freezes every time you run two or more programs at the same time, it’s time to look into hardware solutions. Adding more random access memory (RAM) is one of the oldest solutions in making your PC run faster. 

 

Windows 10 is more efficient than older OS versions when it comes to managing memory. However, you’ll still need a larger RAM if you want to run multiple programs or a high-resource program. If you don’t know how to install a RAM chip, you can hire someone to do it for you. This is also the most practical solution if you have quite a few office PCs to upgrade and don’t have an in-house IT department. 

6. Avoid overloading the browser

Most of us are guilty of this one. We tend to run multiple tabs on our web browser a lot of the time. But did you know that this also eats up a lot of memory? This is especially true if you’re using Google Chrome. Open as few browser tabs, extensions, or add-ons as possible to keep your computer running smoothly.

7. Schedule your antivirus scans

There’s also a chance that malware running in the background is slowing down your PC. Scan your computer regularly with the built-in Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus program to catch unwanted applications. Neil J. Rubenking, PCMag’s technical editor and an industry expert, gave Webroot and Kaspersky a 4.5-star rated Editor’s Choice award for being the best antivirus protection solutions for 2020.

 

However, do take note that some antivirus programs have a heavier footprint on system performance than others. So, before installing one, make sure to read online reviews.

8. Disable all startup apps

Many programs install side processes that automatically run every time you boot up your PC. Sometimes, these are what’s causing your PC to slow down. To make things worse, you don’t need these applications running in the background. Stopping them from running in the first place is the best solution for this. 

 

Go to your Task Manager, then click the “Startup” tab. Right-click on the program and select ‘Disable.” The next time you turn on your PC, the disabled programs will no longer automatically run.

9. Delete unnecessary files

A bloated hard drive with unnecessary files could be the reason why your PC is suddenly running slow. Likewise, all the files in your Recycle Bin also add to the unnecessary files that are bogging down your system. A regular clean-up of your hard drive is the only solution to this. However, not everyone has the time to do so.  

 

The good news is Windows 10 has a neat built-in tool for cleaning your junk files called Storage Sense. To access this tool, go to “Settings > System > Storage” and toggle the switch at the top of the screen from off to on. When you do this, Windows will monitor your PC and remove temporary files, old downloads, recycle bin files, and other old files you’re no longer using.

10. Have your PC checked by experts

If you’ve done everything above and the speed problem still persists, it’s time to call in the professionals. For example, you can have your PC checked by an IT support expert in New York City. They can give your computer a full diagnostic check-up to see what’s causing the problem. Once the root cause has been identified, it will be easier to fix the problem.  

 

It’s not uncommon for PCs to slow down over time. There are many possible reasons why your computer is slowing down. It could be a software or hardware issue. Learning the different ways on how to speed up your computer can help you identify what the problem is and how to fix it. 

However, the problem is not always as easy to determine or fix. In this case, you’ll require the help of an expert. It would also be better to have office PCs regularly checked and maintained by an expert to ensure their efficiency and longevity.

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