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There are some features you may add to your laptop that make it slow down. It’s inevitable that laptops will slow down at some point. As software advances, the way your laptop reacts to these changes can alter the performance completely.
While upgrading your laptop may help it run faster, there are cheaper improvements you can make that are easier to do.
Some of these minor adjustments not only increase computer speeds, but they can also help make your laptop more functional for years to come. Here are five ways to help you learn how to make a laptop faster in no time.
1. Uninstalling Bloatware You No Longer Need
When you purchase a laptop, it typically comes equipped with various applications that a lot of people won’t use. These often eat up your system’s resources and cause your laptop to work at a slower pace. These applications are known as bloatware and should be uninstalled if you want to improve PC performance on your laptop pronto.
If you ever notice popups asking you to update a program you haven’t used before, that’s typically a good indication that you have bloatware.
Removing them from your computer and freeing up space is one of the fastest ways to speed up computer performance. By right-clicking on Start and visiting Programs and Features or using the Windows assistant, you can find out which apps you’ve recently used and which take up the most space.
You should also educate yourself on which programs your computer needs to function properly before deleting any applications. Many of these applications slow down your laptop because they automatically stay up once you boot up your computer. Once they’re permanently erased, you should notice a big difference in the overall performance of your PC.
2. Check for Viruses and Spyware
If you want to know how to speed up your computer efficiently, find out if a virus came in at some point while you were browsing the web.
With the latest Windows Defender software, it’s easy to find malware that could be the cause of your computer running slowly. There are also third-party programs that are easy to install and are just as effective in removing viruses or spyware your laptop may have picked up.
You’ll notice that some applications are better than others, and the ones taking up the most space can be causing the most issues with speed. You want to find software that works efficiently and gets rid of malware completely. Be sure that the software also isn’t taking up too much space on your laptop.
There are two main types of software that can help monitor your computer’s performance. The malware cleanup programs that help with lagging or problems with the speed or popups are ideal to have. However, you should also consider applications that have ongoing protection and continue running in the background.
With a little research, you can find anti-virus programs that work within your budget or function under a specific kind of operating system. You may experience compatibility issues when downloading software so treat everything on a trial basis. Aim to choose one that knows how to make a laptop faster without taking up too much of your PC’s memory.
3. Utilize Disk Cleanup
Your laptop comes with a number of files and programs on the hard drive that are barely used or are otherwise unnecessary. Disk Cleanup helps you find the applications and files that can be deleted from your laptop and free up drive space for the programs you’re still using. Its effectiveness depends, however, on how much RAM is left on your computer.
The best route to knowing how to speed up your computer is by scheduling disk defragmentation consistently so you can know how much hard-drive space is available. You can access the Windows Optimize Drives tool from the Start button or your Cortana search box. There are also multiple third-party programs that can help clear out files you’re no longer using.
4. Invest in a Startup SSD
When you want to increase computer speeds fast, a startup solid-state drive or SSD can help take the pressure off of your processor during boot up. If you find yourself shifting between multiple applications at one time, having an SSD helps. Or if you use photo and editing software, then an SSD could also help these programs run smoother and faster.
Most desktop computers commonly have SSDs, there are some that work just as well on laptop models — especially from OamaTech. When you can’t use an internal SSD, you can always buy an external drive that connects to your laptop using a USB. Having this drive gives your laptop an extra push during boot up so you can accomplish tasks faster and with additional memory to run properly.
5. Monitor Your Number of Programs at Startup
The most common way of knowing how to make a laptop faster is by limiting the number of programs run when your PC starts up. Windows 10’s latest Task Manager makes determining what programs are running in the background simple. This way, you can monitor which apps are starting up on their own.
Simply hit the Ctrl-Shift-Esc buttons at the same time to access the Task Manager. A box should appear showing you all of the applications your laptop has installed. You’ll also notice a detailed account of how much RAM each program uses when your computer starts up.
To make any adjustments, you simply right-click on the application you want to apply changes to and decide for it not to run until commanded. These settings can be changed at any time if you notice any negative impacts on your laptop. And if you’re having any doubts, you can always restart your laptop to see how it runs without certain applications during startup.
How to Make a Laptop Faster: Solved
If you find yourself experiencing problems loading applications or if you simply just want to know how to make a laptop faster, these minor adjustments should make all of the difference. Always double check to see if there is spyware, malware, or a virus causing the slow speeds. And when in doubt, speak with a professional on any outstanding issues there may be with your laptop.
Good luck!
