How to fix a slow computer

Introduction:

Is your computer running slow? Do applications take forever to load? You're not alone. A slow computer is one of the most common tech problems people experience. But don't worry, there are ways to fix it. In this post, we'll share with you some tips on how to speed up your computer and get it performing like new again.

How to fix a slow computer

Your computer might be slow for a variety of reasons: you might have too many files on your desktop, you might not besweeping your PC for unused files and leftover pieces of apps you’ve deleted regularly, or your device might be upgradeable and still running off an HDD (hard disk drive). If your computer is upgradeable, we’d recommend looking into SSDs (solid-state drives). These have no moving parts and tend to last longer. If you’re using a Windows PC, there are a few things you can try to help speed up the performance of your device: clear your browser cache, disable startup programs and defragment your hard drive.

Check which apps open at startup

One way to help speed up a slow computer is to take a look at the apps that open automatically when you start your machine or log in. Many programs offer the option to open them automatically, but if too many try and open at once, your machine’s performance will take a hit. To see which apps are launching at startup, press Ctrl-Shift-Escape together to open your Task Manager. Then, tap the Startup tab to see the list of programs. From here, you can disable each one individually by clicking on it and selecting Disable.

Clear resource-hungry applications

One of the main reasons your computer might be running slowly is that there are too many applications open and taking up valuable resources. You can fix this by using the Task Manager. Sticking with the task manager, the “Processes” tab will give you a look at which applications are using up your memory (don’t be surprised to see Google Chrome there). This way, you can close down applications by clicking on the process and then clicking “End Task.” We’d avoid closing “Background processes” unless you’re sure you know what you’re doing—closing these processes can actually cause some serious damage to your computer.

Close apps that are running in the background

Are you noticing a slowdown on your computer? Well, there are a few things you can do to speed it back up again. The first and easiest step is to close any apps that are running in the background. These can slow down your computer, especially if they're not meant to be running all the time. It can be easy to miss these apps, since they're usually hidden in the taskbar. But don't worry, we'll show you how to find them. Just click the small chevron on the right-hand side of your taskbar and you'll see all of your open apps. Then, right-click each one to find the option to close them.

Clear away files and apps that you don't need

​​Your PC's performance can also be hampered by too many files and applications. "Almost everything you delete on your PC will be sent to your Recycle Bin, which can itself then become a sizable resource hog," Microsoft writes. "Right-click and select “Empty Recycle Bin” to clear it. You should also check documents and files you don’t need and be ready to delete them." It might seem daunting, but going through your files and deleting the ones you no longer need is an easy way to speed up your computer. Plus, it's a good way to declutter your digital life!

Check your power settings

Computers are incredible tools, but they can be frustrating when they start to slow down. Before you start considering a replacement, check your power settings. Windows will change how much power your device uses if you need to manage, say, a laptop battery, but it'll also manage power consumption on a desktop, too. To adjust your power plan, open the Start menu (Windows key again), and search for "Power & Sleep settings". Here you'll find a slider that'll let you move between energy-saving and best performance. You can also set a "Power Plan" through the "additional power settings" option, letting you customize your power to energy consumption ratio with more granularity.

Cleanup and defrag

There are a few things you can do to speed up a slow computer. The first is to clean up the files on your hard drive. Windows offers a handy tool called Disk Cleanup that allows you to select which types of files you want to delete. Another thing you can do is defragment your hard drive. Defragmenting helps to organize the files on your hard drive so they can be accessed more quickly. Windows will generally defragment your hard drive on a weekly basis, but you can also do it manually.

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Lastly

There's one more step you can take to try and speed up your computer: optimizing and defragmenting your drive. You'll need to go to "This PC" through the Start menu, right-click your drive, and then click Properties, then Tools. There, you should find an option for Optimize and defragment drive. Click Optimize, then highlight the drive in question and click Analyze. If Analyze is grayed out, you can't defrag because you're using an SSD instead.

Conclusion:

A slow computer can be really frustrating, but with these tips, you can speed it up in no time.Hopefully one of these methods helps you fix the issue and get back to your life!