The 7 Best Ways to Speed Up Your Computer

After you've had a computer for a while, you might notice that it's running slower than when you first got it. Fortunately, you can do some things to speed up your computer to make it seem new again.

Clean up Junk Files and Programs

Getting rid of unnecessary files, applications, and other "junk" is an effective way to speed up any computer. Freeing your computer of these unnecessary items opens up storage for your important things and helps with overall performance.

1. Remove junk files. You have several options, but one is to use a free system cleaner like CCleaner to erase unnecessary files in the Windows OS itself and third-party programs like your web browsers, which like to collect huge, safe-to-delete cache files.

   If these temporary internet files and other useless items stick around for too long, they can not only cause programs to hang and become unresponsive and sluggish but also take up valuable hard drive space.

2. Remove unwanted programs that are just lingering on your computer. These are not only taking up hard drive space but they might open automatically with Windows and be running in the background all the time, sucking away at the processor and memory.

   There are several free program uninstaller apps that make doing this really easy.

3. Also considered junk files are anything you simply don't use or want anymore. So, delete those old video files that you downloaded a year ago and back up all the data you rarely access, like vacation pictures.

4. Clean up your desktop if it's cluttered. Making File Explorer load those icons and folders each time the desktop refreshes can put unnecessary load on your hardware, which takes away system resources that could be used elsewhere.

Defrag Your Hard Drive

Another way you can speed up a computer is by defragging the hard drive. This consolidates all the empty spaces that you create in the file system structure as you add and remove files. These empty spaces make your hard drive take longer to think, which in turn causes files, folders, and programs to open slowly.

Plenty of free defrag tools are available to do this, but another option is to use the one built-in to Windows.

Remove Viruses, Malware, Spyware, Adware, etc.

Every Windows computer is vulnerable to malware, but your risk of infection is low if you regularly use anti-malware programs.

Once the virus is on the computer, it usually stores itself in the system memory, slowing everything down. Some malicious programs show pop-ups or trick you into buying their "antivirus program," which are even more reasons to remove them.

Periodically scan your computer for malware to get rid of these pesky memory hogs. Depending on the severity, purging those viruses could speed up the computer instantly.

Fix Windows System Errors

Installing and uninstalling software and Windows updates, rebooting your computer during an update, forcing your PC to shut down immediately, and other things can cause errors within the Windows system files. 

These errors can cause things to lock up, halt program installs and updates, and generally prevent a smooth computer experience. Speeding up a computer this way is easy; just repair the system files.

Adjust Visual Effects

Windows provides numerous interesting visual effects including animated windows and fading menus. These extras are usually fine to have turned on, but they're only worth it if you have enough system memory.

If this is why your PC is slow, you can turn off these visual effects to speed up the computer in seconds.

Clean, Replace, or Upgrade Your Hardware

While software problems often cause a slow computer, you can only get so far before you need to address the hardware.

For example, if your computer doesn't let you open more than a couple of programs at once or doesn't let you watch HD movies, you may have a small amount of RAM or a broken or outdated ​video card. You may also just have dirty hardware.

It's wise to periodically clean your physical hardware parts. Over time, and due especially to certain environmental effects, fans and other pieces under the case can gather clumps of dirt or hair, making them work in overdrive just to function normally. Clean up everything before you buy new hardware—they may be just too dirty.

A hard drive testing tool is useful if you suspect that the drive is failing. A dying hard drive can make everything slow, like opening and saving files and programs. In this case, replacing the hard drive can speed up the computer.

Reinstall the Entire Windows Operating System

The most drastic solution to speeding up your computer is to delete all the software and files, remove the whole Windows OS, and start from scratch. You can do this with a clean install of Windows.

The great thing about doing this is that you essentially have a new computer, free of years' worth of software and registry changes and errors that you don't even know you have. However, you should really think more than twice about doing this because it's irreversible and is one of the last decisions you can make to speed up your computer.

Why Is My Computer So Slow?

Over time, as you download files, browse the internet, remove programs, leave applications open, and do pretty much anything else on your computer, it slowly collects junk and causes behind-the-scenes problems that aren't always so easy to catch at first.

File fragmentation is a big culprit. So is the accumulation of cached web browser files, a cluttered desktop, a full hard drive, slow hardware, and many other issues.

However, your computer itself may actually not be slow. You may just be experiencing a slow internet connection due to a faulty router, a bad connection, or the limited speed offered by your ISP. In any case, you may just need to speed up your internet access.