Getting your Windows 11 machine to run smoother isn’t exactly rocket science, but it can definitely feel like pulling teeth sometimes. These tips aren’t some secret hack, but they do help, especially if your PC’s feeling slow or the fans won’t stop whirring. It’s funny how Windows runs a heap of stuff in the background, most of which isn’t even needed. Anyway, here’s what’s worked for me before — sometimes a mix does the trick, other times just one or two fixes are enough.
How to Make Your Computer Run Faster on Windows 11
If your PC’s taking ages to boot up or lags when you’re scrolling through stuff, it’s probably time to have a tidy-up. These steps can give your system a real boost, and they’re pretty straightforward. Expect quicker start times, less of those spinning circles, and just a more responsive experience. Just keep in mind, on some setups, you might need to restart or try a couple of times for the full effect. Windows can be a bit quirky like that.
Step 1: Turn Off Unnecessary Startup Programs
This might be the easiest fix, but also one a lot of folk overlook. Apps like Dropbox, Skype, or even some dodgy software can load when Windows starts and chew up resources. Hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager, then click on the Startup tab. Flick through the list — for anything you don’t need straight away, right-click and choose Disable. It’ll cut your boot time down pretty quickly. When I did this on a slower laptop, it halved the startup time.
Tip: Sometimes a quick reboot after turning stuff off makes a noticeable difference. Windows tends to preload a bunch of background rubbish unless you tell it otherwise.
Step 2: Clean Out Disk Space
Think of this like tidying your desk — over time, temp files, caches, and old updates pile up and slow things down. Search for Disk Cleanup — it’s built-in and easy to use. Pick your C: drive, then tick the boxes for things like Temporary Files, Thumbnails, and Recycle Bin. Sometimes, running it a couple of times or selecting Cleanup system files helps clear out more junk from old updates or restore points. I’ve seen slow machines because they’re chockers with clutter, and a quick cleanup makes a big difference.
Note: For a deeper clean, you can try free tools like CCleaner or BleachBit — but don’t go overboard, especially with registry cleaners.
Step 3: Update Windows and Your Drivers
Keeping everything up to date isn’t just about security — it can fix bugs that cause slowdowns. Head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Do the same for drivers — open Device Manager (right-click the Start button and select it). For big hardware components like graphics cards, motherboard chipsets, or network adapters, check the manufacturer’s website for the latest drivers. Sometimes Windows Update doesn’t get the newest stuff, especially with GPU drivers, but updating can fix lag and make things run smoother.
Pro tip: Some driver updates can cause issues, so if you notice problems after updating, roll back to the previous version.
Step 4: Change Power Settings
This is kind of a trade-off — if you want your PC to go faster, switch to High performance mode in Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options. Using this setting, Windows won’t bother with power savings features, and your CPU will run at full tilt. It’ll eat more power, obviously — good if you’re plugged in most of the time. If you’re on a laptop and want to save battery, remember to switch back to balanced or power saver mode when needed. You can also tweak advanced power settings, like setting your CPU minimum and maximum states or boosting PCI Express link speeds, if you’re into the nitty-gritty.
Step 5: Kill Off Background Processes
Open Task Manager again (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and head to Processes. Anything unusual or taking up heaps of resources? Right-click and choose End task. Be on the lookout for apps you recognise — some run in the background by default, gobbling CPU and RAM. Killing these can free up memory and make your PC feel snappier. Sometimes, these programs will restart after a reboot, so keep an eye on it over the next few days.
On some machines, temporarily ending background processes helps a lot, but after restarting, some will come back unless you manage startup items or uninstall unneeded apps.
After given these a go a few times, you should notice a fair dinkum speed boost — especially if your machine’s been bogged down with unnecessary background noise or clutter. These aren’t quick fixes, but combined, they can breathe new life into your sluggish Windows 11 machine.
Tips to Keep Your Windows 11 Running Snappier
- Check your startup list regularly — stuff can sneak in.
- Run disk cleanup once a month or so — it’s like vacuuming your system.
- Keep Windows and drivers up to date, especially graphics and chipset.
- If you can, bung in some more RAM — that’s often the bottleneck when things get slow with multiple tabs or apps open.
- Use lighter antivirus software — some free options are quicker and less of a pain.
FAQs
How do I know which startup programs to disable?
If you don’t recognise the app or it’s not essential to launch at start, ye can disable it. Google the name if unsure. Some antivirus or cloud backup apps run in the background but aren’t critical right away — turn those off if you want a quicker boot.
Will adjusting power settings eat into my battery life?
Yeah, high performance mode uses more juice, so if your laptop’s unplugged, you might want to switch back to balanced or power saver when needed.
Is updating drivers all that important?
For most folks, yes. Especially graphics, network, and chipset drivers — they often have fixes and improvements that boost speed and stability.
Can running too many background processes slow my machine down?
Absolutely. They gobble CPU, RAM, and disk resources, which adds up and can make your system sluggish.
What if my PC’s still slow after all this?
Run a malware scan — sometimes viruses or adware cause the slowdowns. If that’s clear, upgrading hardware like more RAM or switching to an SSD can be a game-changer.
Summary
- Disable unnecessary startup programs.
- Clean out your disk regularly.
- Keep Windows and your drivers up to date.
- Set your power plan to high performance when plugged in.
- Manage background processes that aren’t needed.
Hope this helps you squeeze a bit more speed out of your Windows 11 box. Sometimes it’s just about doing a bit of tidying up and managing your startup apps. Good luck, mate!