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How to Speed Up Your Windows PC Without Installing Anything
If your Windows PC feels slow, don’t worry — you can boost its performance quickly without installing any software. By using built-in Windows tools and features, you can make your computer faster, smoother, and more responsive. Here are the most effective methods.
1. Restart Your PC (Not Sleep Mode)
Many users keep their PC on for days in Sleep mode. This slowly fills up memory and causes lag.
👉 Do a full restart to clear temporary files and free RAM.
2. Disable Startup Programs
Some apps start automatically when Windows boots, slowing down startup and consuming memory.
How to disable:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
- Go to Startup apps
- Right-click unwanted apps → Disable
Disable apps like:
- Spotify
- Discord
- OneDrive (if not used)
- Steam
- Adobe Updater
3. Clean Temporary Files
Windows stores gigabytes of junk over time.
Use Storage Sense / Disk Cleanup:
- Go to Settings → System → Storage
- Turn on Storage Sense
- Click Temporary Files
- Remove:
- Cache
- Recycle Bin
- System temporary files
- Thumbnails
This can free several GBs instantly.
4. Uninstall Unnecessary Apps
Apps you don’t use still take up storage and run background processes.
Steps:
- Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps
- Remove anything you no longer use
- Restart the PC afterward
5. Turn Off Visual Effects
Windows animations look nice but take up system resources.
Quick method:
- Press Windows + R
- Type sysdm.cpl → Enter
- Go to Advanced → Performance Settings
- Select Adjust for best performance
OR uncheck effects manually.
This gives a big speed boost to older PCs.
6. Reduce Background Apps
Background apps consume RAM even when not open.
Steps:
- Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps
- Select an app → Advanced options
- Under Background apps permissions, choose Never
7. Check for Windows Updates
Updates include security fixes and performance improvements.
Path:
Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates
Make sure to restart after updating.
8. Optimize Power Settings
Windows may slow your PC to save energy.
Switch to High Performance:
- Open Control Panel
- Search Power Options
- Select High performance (or Ultimate Performance, if available)
9. Defragment Your Hard Drive (HDD Only)
If you use an HDD (not SSD), fragmentation slows your PC.
How:
- Search Defragment and Optimize Drives
- Select your HDD
- Click Optimize
Do NOT defrag SSDs.
10. Free Up Disk Space
If your C drive is almost full, Windows becomes slow.
You can:
- Delete large files
- Remove old downloads
- Move media to another drive
- Clean the Recycle Bin
Aim to keep 20% storage free on the system drive.
11. Reset Windows Explorer
If your PC freezes or becomes slow temporarily:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
- Find Windows Explorer
- Right-click → Restart
This refreshes the desktop and taskbar without rebooting.
Final Thoughts
Speeding up your Windows PC doesn’t require expensive tools or new software. By cleaning temporary files, managing startup apps, reducing background processes, and adjusting performance settings, you can noticeably improve speed in just a few minutes.
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