It’s inevitable. Laptops slow down with time – and sometimes, all it takes is a little TLC (tender, loving care) to get them running faster again. Here are some tips on how to take care of your laptop so that it runs faster and smoother for longer.
1. Task Manager is your friend
First and foremost, get to know your Task Manager. This is one of the most important tools when it comes to dealing with a slow laptop. The Task Manager allows you to see which applications are hogging up your computer’s resources and slowing it down as a result. Simply open up the Task Manager (press Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard) and take a look at the “Processes” tab. From there, you can sort the processes by CPU usage and end any that are taking up too much of your computer’s power.
2. Remove Cache
Just like your phone, your laptop too has a cache memory. This is basically where all your temporary internet files and data are stored. If this isn’t cleared out every once in a while, it can really bog down the speed of your device. So make sure you do that on a regular basis.
3. Cleaning up your hard drive
Just like your room gets cluttered over time, so does your laptop’s storage space. And, if you’re someone who downloads a lot of files and doesn’t delete the ones you don’t need anymore, then your laptop is probably filled to the brim. So, take some time out every few months to go through your downloads and remove the ones you don’t need. This will free up a ton of space on your hard drive and help your laptop run faster.
4. Disable cortana on windows.
Cortana is a digital assistant that comes with Windows, and while it can be helpful, it can also slow down your laptop. To disable Cortana, search for “Cortana” in the Windows search bar and then click on the “Cortana & Search settings” option. From there, you can toggle the “Cortana can give you suggestions, ideas, reminders, and more” option to “Off”.
5. Create multiple folders
It’s important to create multiple folders and store all of your files in an organized way. This will help your computer run faster because it won’t have to search through a ton of files to find the one you’re looking for.
6. Disconnect unused USB devices from your computer
Disconnect unused USB devices from your computer. If you have a lot of devices connected to your computer, it can slow down the processing speed. So, disconnect any devices that you’re not using.
7. Change your power settings to maximum performance
This is one of the most basic things you can do to ensure that your laptop is running at its fastest. By default, many laptops are set to “balanced” or “power saver” mode in order to conserve battery. However, this can often lead to a significant slowdown in performance.
To change your power settings, simply go to the “Control Panel” and search for “power options.” From there, you can select the “Maximum Performance” option and click “Apply.” This will ensure that your laptop is always running at its full potential.
8. Tweak your mouse settings
This is one of the most basic things you can do to help speed up your laptop. By tweaking a few mouse settings, you can make your laptop feel a lot more responsive. To do this, go to your control panel and search for “mouse.” From there, you can change the pointer speed, double-click speed, and other settings.
9. Delete your Internet browsing history
One of the main culprits for a slow laptop is usually all the junk that accumulates over time. This can be anything from temporary internet files to programs that you no longer use.
A good way to start is by cleaning out your Internet browsing history. This includes cookies and cached images that can take up a lot of space on your hard drive. You can do this by going into your browser settings and deleting them manually or using a program like CCleaner.
10. Disable automatic updates
One of the best ways to help your laptop run faster is to disable automatic updates. Many times, these updates can run in the background and slow down your laptop’s performance.
11. Remove malware
Get rid of all the malware that’s bogging down your computer. This can be done by running a full system scan with an antivirus program. Once that’s done, you should also remove any bloatware that came pre-installed on your computer. Bloatware can take up a lot of space and resources, so getting rid of it can speed up your laptop significantly.
12. Get rid of bloatware
These are the programs that come installed on your computer when you first buy it, and usually, you never use them. They take up space on your hard drive and can slow down your laptop. So, go through your programs and uninstall anything that you don’t use.
By following these tips, you can keep your laptop running smoothly and quickly. And, if you do have any problems, you can always bring it to the Computer Repair Shop and we’ll take care of it for you. Thanks for reading!
