Three businessmen wearing suits running on track with laptops, racing to find out how to speed up your computer.

How to Speed Up Your Computer

If there is one thing that every computer user can agree on, it’s that no one likes a slow-running computer. It doesn’t matter if you have Apple or Windows; having a slow computer can be inconvenient and frustrating, especially if you are using it for work or school. Perhaps your computer is running slow because it is old, or maybe you just haven’t cleared out old files or unused apps in a while…either way, there are minor fixes to try that can help your computer run faster.

So the next time you are feeling frustrated with your sluggish computer, try some of these simple yet effective tips on how to speed up your computer!

Why Is My Computer So Slow?

Slow computers make even the simplest of tasks a nuisance. If a person is unsure why their computer is running slow, they may be quick to blame their internet or wifi connection, especially if they spend the majority of their time online. In some cases, slow connections are to blame, but this only applies to web pages and applications downloaded from the internet. So if you are offline and have still noticed prolonged performance on your computer, then it could be because of one of the following factors:

  • Your operating system needs to be updated
  • Your drivers are out of date
  • Security issues (malware or viruses)
  • Low disk drive space (SDD or HDD)
  • Low RAM space (Random access memory)
  • Fragmented hard drive
  • Too many unnecessary background programs
  • Unnecessary programs launched at start
  • Special effects
  • Unnecessary files or applications

The good news is that there are ways to address the issues mentioned above, so let’s dive into how to make your computer run faster.

How Do I Speed Up My Computer?

You would be surprised what a few minor fixes can do to your overall computer speed. Did you know that something as simple as restarting your computer can have a major impact on speed and performance?
So whether you are operating Windows 10 or even an older version, let’s try some of these basic tips to improve the speed and performance of your computer.

  • Free up disk space – if you have a computer that has very little space on your disk drive, this can significantly slow down your computer. There are also built-in tools on your computer that can help you clean up your hard drive, but here are some ways that you can manually do it:
    • You can free up disk space by deleting files you no longer need.
    • If you have a lot of large files or media files stored on your computer, use an external storage device or even an online storage account for media files (Google and iCloud both offer photo storage for free, and Google Photos will even delete the files from your device to help clear up room)
    • If you have programs or software installed on your computer that you no longer use, uninstall them.
    • If your computer is still running slow after these steps, consider a third-party PC cleaning software that finds and repairs files that may slow your computer down.
  • Defragmenting Your Hard Drive – defragmenting your hard drive can help to speed up your computer by reorganizing data to make it more accessible. As you use your PC more, the data on your hard drive becomes fragmented, making it difficult for your computer to find all the pieces of information that it needs to run something specific.
    • If you have Windows 7 or newer, your PC is most likely automatically defragmenting your computer weekly. If you are unsure or just want to do it manually, you can access the Start menu and then type defragment in the search bar. Choose the app that says Defragment and Optimize Drives.
    • If you have a Mac, do not worry about defragmenting.
  • Updates – if you really want to know how to make your PC run faster, then check for updates. Update your OS and update your drivers.
    • Start by making sure that your computer has the latest Windows updates installed. To check for the latest updates on Windows, open the Start menu and type Update & Security in the search bar. The Update & Security page will tell you if any updates need to be installed.
    • You can also make sure that your drivers are up to date. Drivers are needed for every device on your computer – keyboard, printer, mouse, etc.- and basically, let your PC know how to use these devices. You can do this manually or look into driver updates software.
  • Check For Malware or Viruses – even if you simply browse the web and never intentionally download anything suspicious, there is a chance that you still might have spyware or viruses. Malware can seriously slow down or even damage your computer.
    • The best, easiest, and most effective way to handle viruses and remove them is through anti-virus software that identifies, cleans, and removes these files.
    • System updates also might fix security bugs or issues that help prevent malware.

Once you have tried some of these tips, you should better understand how to speed up your computer. If you have tried all of these fixes and your computer is still running slow, then it might be time to consider MyCleanPC software to clean your computer and improve speed and performance.