Is your laptop frustratingly slow? You don’t always have to purchase expensive hardware or install expensive software to achieve optimal performance. You can make the most of what you have and even make it seem faster with just the right steps, all without spending a single dollar.
We will discuss simple tricks that can be followed in this guide to accelerate a slow laptop with the help of built-in tools as well as intelligent habits.
Reformatting Your Laptop on a regular basis.
Many individuals leave their laptops unattended for days or even weeks. This can create unnecessary background processes and memory leaks.
Restarting your laptop:
i) Clears temporary files
ii) Refreshes system processes
iii) Frees up RAM
Get into the habit of taking a break at least once a week.
Turn off Unused Startup Programs.
Every time you boot your laptop, there are numerous applications that default to launching, thereby making it slow. To fix this:
On Windows: Ctrl + Shift + Esc – Open Task Manager – Turn to Startup (tab) – deactivate unnecessary applications.
On Mac: System Settings -Users and Groups-Login Items-Delete unwanted apps.
Incidentally, it is also possible to cut down on boot time by disabling non-essential startup apps.
Uninstall Programs that you do not use.
Software licenses that are not used can clutter your system and they run background services. Get rid of space and resources.
Windows: Control panel – Programs and features – uninstall unnecessary software.
Mac: Drag apps in the Applications folder to the Trash.
Keep the programs that you really need.
Empty the Trash and Clear the Cache.
As time elapses, temporary files, cache and system logs accumulate and slow down performance.
Windows: Open Windows built-in Disk Cleanup or click Windows + R and type %temp% and delete unwanted files.
MacOS: Finder – Find In Folder – type in: ~/library/caches/ and delete old cache files.
It is a basic cleaning that can buy your laptop some breathing space.
Background Processes.
Applications running in the background consume a significant amount of CPU and RAM.
Windows: Open Task Manager, click on Processes, and end unnecessary processes.
Mac: Open Activity Monitor and terminate any unneeded processes.
Do not close system-critical processes; only applications you are familiar with.
Adjust Power Settings
Some laptops are defaulted to use energy-saving modes, and this lowers performance.
Windows: Control panel – Power options – Choose High Performance.
Mac: Open System Preferences – Battery/Power Adapter – Turn off any energy-saving features.
This enables your laptop to utilise its maximum processing power.
Defrag or Optimise Your Hard Disc.
When you have a conventional HDD (not SSD), data access is slowed by fragmentation.
Windows: Find Defragment and Optimize Drives -Click on drive – Optimize.
Mac: macOS automatically does disk optimisation, and one does not need to do it manually.
This is not the case with SSDs.
Keep Your Operating System Up to Date.
Performance improvements and security patches are typically included in system updates.
Windows: Settings> Update & Security> Windows Update.
Mac: Software Update – System Preferences.
Keeping your laptop up to date helps ensure it runs smoothly and safely.
Minimise Visual Effects and Animations.
Anime graphics may take up memory and slow down an older laptop.
Windows: Control panel – system – advanced system settings – performance – Adjust the best performance.
Mac: System Preferences> Accessibility> Reduce Motion and Transparency.
You will find that it responds quicker when opening windows or switching applications.
Arrange and Clean Out Storage Space.
A nearly full hard drive slows down any computer. Free space by:
Deleting duplicate and old downloads.
Transfer of big media files to an external hard drive or cloud.
Empty the Recycle Bin/Trash.
Important: Maintain at least 20% of your storage capacity vacant.
Final Thoughts
You do not need to pay to speed up a slow laptop. You can recover speed and efficiency through the maintenance of your system, wise management of resources, and application of system optimisation provided tools.
The tips are best followed on a regular basis, i.e., you should establish a habit of cleaning, updating and organising your laptop. Minimal maintenance can go a long way in ensuring that your device remains fast and dependable.
