- Windows 10 offers a great user experience, but with tweaks, you can enhance it: save time by disabling startup programs and enabling fast startup.
- Optimize your hard drive by using built-in tools like Disk Cleanup and defragmentation to maintain efficiency and speed.
- Improve overall system performance by adjusting visual effects, power settings, keeping the system updated, using an SSD, removing unnecessary software, managing background processes, adjusting virtual memory, disabling search indexing, enabling Game Mode, using cleaner tools, reducing animations, and monitoring system performance.
Windows 10 is a powerful operating system that offers a great user experience right out of the box. However, with a few tweaks and hacks, you can make it even better. Whether you’re looking to speed up your system, customize your interface, or just get the most out of your hardware, these tips will help you boost your Windows 10 performance without needing advanced technical knowledge.
Best Windows 10 Tips and Tricks of 2024
1. Speed Up Boot Time
One of the first things you might notice is the boot time of your computer. Here’s how to make your Windows 10 boot faster:
- Disable Startup Programs: Many programs start automatically when you turn on your PC. You can disable unnecessary ones to speed up the boot process.
- Press
Ctrl + Shift + Esc
to open Task Manager. - Go to the
Startup
tab and disable programs you don’t need immediately.
- Press
- Enable Fast Startup: This feature reduces the boot time.
- Go to
Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do
. - Click on
Change settings that are currently unavailable
. - Check
Turn on fast startup
and save changes.
- Go to
2. Optimize Your Hard Drive
Over time, your hard drive can get cluttered, which can slow down your system. Here’s how to keep it clean and fast:
- Disk Cleanup: This built-in tool helps you free up space on your hard drive.
- Type
Disk Cleanup
in the search bar and select the drive you want to clean. - Check the boxes for the types of files you want to delete and click
OK
.
- Type
- Defragment Your Drive: This rearranges fragmented data so your hard drive can work more efficiently.
- Type
Defragment
in the search bar and selectDefragment and Optimize Drives
. - Select your drive and click
Optimize
.
- Type
3. Improve System Performance
There are several settings in Windows 10 that you can adjust to improve overall system performance:
- Adjust Visual Effects: Windows 10 uses visual effects that can slow down your system. Turning them off can improve performance.
- Right-click
This PC
and selectProperties
. - Click
Advanced system settings
. - Under the
Performance
section, clickSettings
. - Select
Adjust for best performance
or manually uncheck the visual effects you don’t need.
- Right-click
- Adjust Power Settings: Using a high-performance power plan can make your PC run faster.
- Go to
Control Panel > Power Options
. - Select
High performance
.
- Go to
4. Keep Your System Updated
Regular updates can improve your system’s performance and security. Make sure your Windows 10 is always up-to-date:
- Go to
Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update
. - Click
Check for updates
and install any available updates.
5. Use a Solid State Drive (SSD)
If you’re still using a traditional hard drive, consider upgrading to an SSD. SSDs are much faster and can significantly improve boot times and overall system responsiveness.
6. Remove Bloatware and Unnecessary Software
New PCs often come with pre-installed software you don’t need. Removing these can free up resources and improve performance:
- Go to
Settings > Apps > Apps & features
. - Uninstall the programs you don’t use.
7. Manage Background Processes
Some applications run in the background and consume resources. You can manage these to improve performance:
- Open
Task Manager
(Ctrl + Shift + Esc). - Go to the
Processes
tab. - End the tasks that you don’t need (be careful not to end system processes).
8. Adjust Virtual Memory
Virtual memory can be optimized to improve system performance:
- Right-click
This PC
and selectProperties
. - Click
Advanced system settings
. - Under the
Performance
section, clickSettings
. - Go to the
Advanced
tab and clickChange
under Virtual Memory. - Uncheck
Automatically manage paging file size for all drives
. - Select your drive and choose
Custom size
. Enter an initial size and maximum size (recommended to be 1.5 to 3 times the amount of your RAM).
9. Disable Search Indexing
Search indexing can slow down your PC, especially if you don’t search for files often:
- Type
Services
in the search bar and open the Services app. - Find
Windows Search
and double-click it. - Set the Startup type to
Disabled
.
10. Enable Game Mode
If you’re a gamer, enabling Game Mode can optimize your system for better gaming performance:
- Go to
Settings > Gaming > Game Mode
. - Turn on
Game Mode
.
11. Use a Cleaner Tool
There are several third-party tools that can help you clean and optimize your system:
- Tools like CCleaner can clean temporary files, fix registry issues, and manage startup programs.
12. Reduce Animations and Transparency
Windows 10 uses animations and transparency effects that can consume resources:
- Go to
Settings > Ease of Access > Display
. - Turn off
Show animations in Windows
andShow transparency in Windows
.
13. Monitor Your System
Keeping an eye on your system’s performance can help you identify issues quickly:
- Use the built-in Resource Monitor (search
Resource Monitor
). - Check CPU, memory, disk, and network usage to find any bottlenecks.
Conclusion
By following these tips, tricks, and hacks, you can significantly boost the performance of your Windows 10 system. Whether you’re a casual user or a power user, these optimizations can make your experience smoother and more efficient. Remember, a well-maintained computer not only performs better but also lasts longer. Happy computing!