Generally, technology is known to slow over time, and this isn’t isolated to Windows devices, but macOS and Linux-powered systems too. While it’s really frustrating to see your machine slow down with time, taking longer to start up, for example, it’s by no means the end of the road. Rather than binning your machine and purchasing a new one, there are a number of techniques we can deploy in Windows 10 systems to wind things back up.
Bloatware, for instance, is one of the most common causes of slowdown, preventing your machine from running at peak performance. These programs aren’t necessarily malicious, rather they’re not necessary to the functionality of your device. They might be systems you once used but no longer have any need for, or add aesthetic alterations to the user interface that you can well do without.
Make logging in to Windows 10 quicker
If you’ve set up your machine to request a password when signing into your computer, you may want to skip this process, if you always use your computer in a safe and secure place, on a secured network.
You may find you only save seconds typing your passwords in and hitting return, but the time you’ll save re-booting every time your computer’s gone to sleep may make your experience at least a little smoother.
But if that’s not the case, you can uncheck the box asking you to enter a username and password to log in. Click apply, confirm your password, and Windows will never ask you for it again. It is worth noting, though, that even your home may not be the most secure environment, as everybody can be burgled.
Make shutting down Windows 10 faster
If you like to shut down your computer after a hard day’s work, then you will realize that the process still requires three clicks. To speed this up you can use a shortcut. Simply right-click anywhere on a free part of the desktop then click New > Shortcut. In the Location field, type in the following.
%windir%\System32\shutdown.exe /s /t 0
Click on the Next to finish. Now each time you click on that shortcut, your PC will immediately shut down. Be careful though, as this will happen without a confirmation check.
Remove bloatware in Windows 10
No one likes bloatware (except PC manufacturers) but it does mean your system is slightly cheaper as a result. But you can ditch this crapware. These are programs such as disc burning software, backup tools from the manufacturer, or other utilities that you don’t necessarily need.
Why programs such as PC Decrapifier and CCleaner do a sterling job of getting rid of bloatware, if you have a brand new (but bloatware laden) computer, then a clean install of Windows 10 could be the best way of clearing out unnecessary software clogging up your system.
Defragment of the hard drive on Windows 10
Defragmenting your hard drive is one of the most basic ways to speed up your computer. This consolidates the various parts of your files into the smallest possible sequential area on the disk. This means the read/write heads must travel smaller distances so will be faster at completing requests.
It is worth mentioning that this only applies to physical, platter-based drives instead of solid-state drives. Since SSDs (solid-state drives) store data in a particular way, fragmentation has a negligible effect on performance.
Importantly, Windows 10, or any operating system for that matter, performs wonderfully on an SSD, drastically reducing load times and boot times to mere seconds. If you’re buying a new laptop or PC, you’ll want to cast an eye over the spec sheets to make sure they have an SSD installed.
Windows 10 can be migrated over to an SSD on an existing system, although the process is a little fiddly. We’ve put together a guide on how best to transfer the OS to an SSD, including some tips to ensure data isn’t lost in the process.
Disable services on Windows 10
As with all versions of Windows, working in the background are services. While some of them are vital to smooth running, quite a few aren’t for day-to-day use. If you disable these services, you can speed up Windows 10.
To turn off services in windows, type: “services.msc” into the search field. Then double-click on the services you want to stop or disable.
Many services can be turned off, but which ones depend on what you use Windows 10 for and whether you work in an office or from home.
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