Faster, Better, And a Joy to Use: How to Speed Up Your Computer and Make It More Efficient

There’s nothing quite like booting a pristine, straight-from-the-box computer for the first time. With no files or operating issues to weigh them down, newer computers run like a charm—at least until you’ve put some serious hours into using one.

Over time, computers can degrade, grow buggy, or get clogged with files, all of which can result in frustrating lag. How can you speed up your computer for a faster experience, even when you’ve been using it for a few years?

If you’re hoping to get closer to that straight-from-the-box experience, here are a few tips to help you resolve common issues that slow your computer down.

Free Up More Storage Space

If you’ve had your computer for a while, the chances are good that you’re running low on storage space. Over time, all of your saved files and folders can add up. In certain cases, they can make your computer less efficient, and they can even wreak havoc with system updates or make your system crash.

Your first step toward a faster computer should always be to check on your storage. You should aim to keep at least ten percent of your total disk size free at all times.

There are countless ways to free up storage on your computer, from deleting old files to transferring unused documents to a USB drive or external hard drive. In addition, you can opt to store certain files with cloud storage, especially if you rely on common file types like word processor documents or spreadsheets.

You’ll also want to remove any programs you don’t often use. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t used an application in the past six months to a year, you should consider removing it. The same is true for bloatware, or unwanted applications that come pre-installed on your device.

Check for Viruses and Malware

If you don’t already use an anti-malware program, now is a good time to start. Viruses and malware store themselves on your computer’s system memory, which can slow your entire system down. If you aren’t sure whether malware is causing your computer’s slow speed, be sure to run a complete system scan to identify and get rid of any potential issues.

Pay Attention to the Programs You’re Running

If your computer seems to be lagging, the culprit might be a specific application. Complex programs or tasks, such as photo or video editing, can eat away at a great deal of your computer’s processing and take a toll on your system’s resources.

However, in some cases, the culprit might be an unexpected program. When you notice that your computer is slowing down, check the applications your system is running. From there, you’ll need to take steps to close those applications and lower your Windows or Mac CPU usage.

It’s especially important to consider the programs that run on startup. Some programs will automatically run in the background as soon as your computer starts up, allowing you to sync files, protect your system, and more. However, if you have too many programs clamoring for attention, it can eat up more of your memory and CPU.

If you’re on a Windows computer, you can open Task Manager to check the programs that launch on startup. For Mac users, you’ll head to System Preferences and check the Login Items section under Users & Groups. This will allow you to uncheck any programs you don’t want to open at login.

Defragment Your Hard Drive

As mentioned above, when you store countless files and applications on your system over the years, it tends to slow your computer down. In some cases, this is true even after you’ve deleted the files, as storing and deleting those files can create empty spaces in your computer’s filing structure.

For PC users, defragmenting your hard drive is an easy task, as Windows comes with a built-in application for this purpose. You can also grab a free defrag tool if you want more thorough cleaning.

Mac users, on the other hand, are lucky: you won’t need to defragment your hard drive to boost your Mac’s speed, as Apple computers aren’t prone to this storage error.

Tweak Your Settings

For a faster laptop, small settings can make a big difference.

In Windows, for example, there are plenty of animated visual effects involved in the appearance of your windows and menus. If you’re running low on system memory, these are just one of several settings to disable.

To speed up your Mac, you can reduce transparency and animations in the Accessibility section of System Preferences: simply select the option to reduce the visual effects you don’t need.

Reconsider Your Browser

You might be surprised to know that your humble web browser itself can be a memory-hogging application. Even high-performing browsers like Google Chrome may eat up at your precious resources.

If you don’t mind switching browsers, consider opting for a light browser instead.

Alternatively, work to minimize the number of tabs you have open, and prune away any unused browser extensions. It can also help to consider which browsers work best with your OS: Safari tends to work better on Mac computers, for example, than Google Chrome.

Use These Tips to Speed Up Your Computer

Whether you want to boost your PC or clean up your Mac, these simple tips can help you speed up your computer in no time. Though storage issues, complex applications, and viruses can slow your computer down as it ages, it’s not hard to optimize it for better efficiency. You might just find that a little effort can get your older computer running like new again!

Looking for more of the tech tips you need to know? Check out our other posts for additional insights.