Is your computer moving at a snail’s pace? We’ve all been there—waiting forever for programs to load, watching that spinning wheel, or feeling frustrated as simple tasks take too long. If you’re wondering how to speed up your computer, the good news is that you don’t need to be a tech wizard or buy a brand-new machine to fix it.
In this guide, we’ll share 10 easy, practical steps to speed up your computer so it runs smoother and faster.
Why does your computer slow down?
Before learning how to speed up your computer, knowing why it gets slow is helpful. Here are the most common reasons:
- Too many programs running simultaneously: Multiple apps can overload your computer’s memory and processing power.
- Cluttered hard drive: A full or disorganized hard drive makes it harder to load files quickly.
- Outdated software or system: Old apps or operating systems must be fixed.
- Too many startup programs: Apps that open automatically can slow down your computer’s boot time.
- Malware or viruses: Hidden software uses resources and slows things down.
If you’re using a Mac and it’s running slow, don’t worry! We also have a guide to help you speed up your Mac. Check it out for tips on boosting performance and getting your Mac running faster.
10 Tricks to speed up your computer
Now that you know the causes, let’s move on to the 10 tricks to make your computer faster!
1. Use a workspace simplifier
As we mentioned earlier, too many programs running at once is one of the main reasons your PC can slow down: it uses a lot of RAM. The perfect solution to this problem? Rambox.
Rambox organizes all your apps in one place, so you don’t have to open multiple windows or tabs. This makes your computer work faster and saves its resources.
For example, we handpicked 10 of the most-used apps by our users every month. Then, we compared how much power they use when running in Chrome versus through Rambox. Running these apps in Chrome can use up to 1700MB of RAM:
But with Rambox, it drops to just about 1500MB, saving 11.76% of your computer’s resources!
Rambox also has a handy App Manager that shows you how much power each app is using. You can easily pause or turn off apps using too many resources.
Rambox lets you quickly turn off apps you’re not using, which can help save resources. To do so, right-click on an app and choose “Enabled.”
Additionally, Rambox has a great Hibernation feature. It automatically shuts down apps that have been inactive for a while so they don’t continue using your computer’s resources in the background. To enable this, right-click on the app and select Settings.
Want to make your computer faster? Try Rambox for free and enjoy a cleaner, quicker workspace!
If you want to learn more tricks to free up RAM, don’t miss our article on how to free up RAM in Windows and the best optimization tools for Windows.
2. Clean up your desktop
A messy desktop can slow down your computer. It’s easy to overlook, but having too many files and shortcuts on your desktop can take up precious resources. When your computer loads up, it must process all those items, making it take longer to start.
Here’s an easy fix: Take a few minutes to clean up your desktop. Move files into folders, delete what you no longer need, and only keep essential shortcuts visible. This small step can help your computer load faster and feel more organized.
A clean desktop speeds up your computer and helps you stay more productive.
Pro tip: To organize your workspace even better, the best solution is Rambox. It allows you to keep everything you need in one interface and organize your apps into folders with Rambox Workspaces.
Say goodbye to a cluttered desktop! With Rambox, everything you need is just a click away.
3. Uninstall unnecessary programs
Over time, you may accumulate programs you no longer use. These programs take up valuable space and resources on your computer, slowing it down.
The good news is that getting rid of unnecessary programs is easy! Go to your computer’s control panel or settings, find the list of installed programs, and uninstall the ones you don’t need. Be sure to double-check for any toolbars or hidden programs that might have been installed alongside other software.
By clearing out unused programs, you can free up space and improve your computer’s performance.
4. Disable startup programs
Some programs automatically start when you turn on your computer. While this may seem convenient, it can slow down your startup time and use up system resources.
To speed things up, you can disable unnecessary startup programs. Here’s how to do it:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
- Go to the Startup tab.
- Here, you’ll see a list of programs that start automatically. Right-click on any program you don’t need and select Disable.
Your web browser stores much data, such as cache and cookies, to help websites load faster. However, this data can build up and slow down your browser over time.
To improve your computer’s speed, it’s a good idea to regularly clear your browser’s cache and cookies. Here’s how to do it:
In Chrome:
- Click the three dots in the top right corner and select More tools > Clear browsing data.
- Choose a time range (e.g., Last 4 weeks or All time) and check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
In Firefox:
- Click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner and select Settings.
- Go to the Privacy & Security tab and scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section.
- Click Clear Data, then select Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content, and click Clear.
6. Delete temporary files
Programs and the operating system create temporary files to store data for short-term use. While they help speed up processes, they can accumulate over time and take up unnecessary space on your computer.
Here’s how to delete them:
On Windows:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type %temp% and press Enter. This will open the folder where temporary files are stored.
- Select all the files in the folder (press Ctrl + A), then press Delete. Some files may be in use and can’t be deleted, so you can skip those.
Use Disk Cleanup:
- Press Windows + S and type Disk Cleanup.
- Select the drive you want to clean (usually C:) and click OK.
- In the Disk Cleanup tool, select Temporary files and click OK to delete them.
7. Free up disk space
Running out of disk space can slow down your computer. When your hard drive is too full, it can’t perform as efficiently. Luckily, there are simple ways to free up space.
Start by uninstalling any programs you no longer use. Go through your installed programs and remove those taking up space that are no longer needed.
If you have large files, such as videos or photos, consider moving them to an external hard drive or uploading them to cloud storage. This will keep your computer running smoothly without using up valuable space.
You can also use the Disk Cleanup tool. Press Windows + S and type Disk Cleanup. Select the drive you want to clean and click OK. In the tool, check the boxes for System files, Recycle Bin, and other files you no longer need, then click OK to delete them.
8. Update your operating system
Outdated software can slow down your computer and even create security risks. Keeping your operating system (OS) up to date ensures that your computer has the latest features and security patches, which can improve performance.
To update your operating system, follow these simple steps:
- Press Windows + I to open the Settings menu.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Select Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates.
- If updates are available, they’ll be downloaded and installed automatically.
9. Check for malware and viruses
Malware and viruses can secretly run in the background, using up your computer’s resources and making it slow. Regularly scanning your computer for malware is key to maintaining performance and security.
To check for malware and viruses, make sure you have an antivirus program installed. If you don’t have one, there are many free options available. However, Windows comes with Windows Defender, which is already built-in, so you can scan your computer without installing anything extra.
To scan with Windows Defender:
- Open the Start menu and type Windows Security.
- Click on the Windows Security app to open it.
- Then, go to Virus & Threat Protection and click Quick Scan for a fast check or Full Scan for a more thorough inspection.
Once the scan is complete, follow the prompts to remove or quarantine any threats found, and your computer should run more smoothly.
10. Add more RAM or upgrade your hardware
If your computer is still running slowly, even after following all the previous steps, it might be time for an upgrade. Adding more RAM (Random Access Memory) can make a big difference. RAM helps your computer handle more tasks at once without slowing down.
To see how much RAM your computer has, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and go to the Performance tab. If your RAM is maxed out, adding more can really speed things up, especially for running heavy programs like video editors or games.
Another option is upgrading to a Solid-State Drive (SSD). An SSD is much faster than a regular hard drive, which can help your computer start up quicker and load files faster.
We hope these 10 simple tricks on how to speed up your computer have helped and that your PC is now running as fast as Usain Bolt on race day!
And remember, you can try Rambox for free for 30 days—no tricks, no credit card required!
