How to make Windows faster: In the following simple solution, I'll show you how to make your Windows Operating System Startup and Shutdown faster. There are many options available to make Windows quicker, however, many of these options require reducing functionality. We will try to focus on options that do not limit functionality.
Here are some things to Make Windows Faster
Speeding up the startup and shutdown of a Windows operating system can be achieved through a variety of methods that do not significantly reduce functionality. Here’s a guide with steps to help you optimize and make Windows faster:
1. Disable Startup Programs
Startup programs can slow down the boot time significantly. Here's how to disable unnecessary startup programs:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Go to the Startup tab.
- Right-click on unnecessary programs and select Disable.
2. Enable Fast Startup
Fast Startup combines the features of shutdown and hibernation to make your PC start faster after a shutdown.
- Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
- Click on Choose what the power buttons do.
- Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Under Shutdown settings, check the box for Turn on fast startup.
3. Update Windows and Drivers
Keeping your system and drivers updated ensures you have the latest performance improvements and bug fixes.
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Click on Check for updates.
4. Clean Up Disk Space
Freeing up disk space can improve the overall performance of your system.
- Open File Explorer.
- Right-click on your main drive (usually C:).
- Select Properties > Disk Cleanup.
5. Empty the Windows Prefetch Directory
Navigate to C:\Windows\Prefetch and delete all files and folders within, then reboot.
6. Optimize Your Drives
Defragmenting and optimizing your hard drive can improve read/write speeds, which can speed up startup and shutdown times.
- Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools.
- Click on Defragment and Optimize Drives.
- Select your main OS drive and click Optimize.
7. Adjust Visual Effects
Reducing the visual effects can improve performance without significantly impacting the user experience.
- Right-click on This PC and select Properties.
- Click on Advanced system settings.
- Under the Performance section, click Settings.
- Select Adjust for best performance or manually choose which effects to disable.
8. Increase Virtual Memory
Increasing the virtual memory can help manage larger workloads and prevent slowdowns.
- Go to Control Panel > System and Security > System.
- Click on Advanced system settings.
- Under the Performance section, click Settings.
- Go to the Advanced tab and click Change under Virtual memory.
- Increase the size of the paging file according to your needs.
9. Disable Unnecessary Services
Some background services may not be necessary for everyday use and can be disabled to free up resources.
- Press Win + R, type the following and press Enter:
services.msc
- Right-click on unnecessary services and select Properties.
- Set the Startup type to Disabled.
10. Remove Bloatware
Uninstalling unnecessary pre-installed applications can help improve system performance.
- Go to Settings > Apps.
- Browse through the list of installed apps and uninstall the ones you don't need.
11. Use a Solid State Drive (SSD)
If your system still uses a traditional hard drive, consider upgrading to an SSD. SSDs have much faster read and write speeds compared to HDDs, significantly improving startup and shutdown times.
By following these steps, you should notice a considerable improvement in the startup and shutdown times which should make Windows faster without compromising on functionality.
