How can you speed up Windows 11?

Windows 11 is the latest iteration of Microsoft’s popular operating system. It offers many new features and improvements, but it can still suffer from slowdowns and performance issues. If you’re looking for ways to speed up Windows 11, then read on!

1. Update Your Drivers

Outdated drivers can be a major cause of slowdowns and other performance issues in Windows 11. Make sure to keep your drivers up to date by using Windows Update or other third-party software to ensure your system is running optimally.

How to check for updates

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
Do one of the following:
- If the status says “You’re up to date,” continue and check for optional updates.
- If the status says “Updates are available,” once they are downloaded, select Install now.
Select the updates you want to install, then select Install.
Restart your PC and see if it seems to run better.

Sometimes an optional update, like a new non-critical driver, will be available that may help.

To check for optional updates

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates.
If additional updates are available, select them and then select Download & install.
Restart your PC and see if it seems to run better.

2. Clean Up Your PC

Over time, your computer will accumulate temporary files, applications, and other junk that can slow down your system. Use a disk cleaner to get rid of the clutter and free up valuable disk space.

To access the Windows Disk Cleanup program, do the following:

1. In the search filed on the menu bar, type in Disk Cleanup

2. Launch program, and select the folders/files you want to permanently delete

3. Uninstall Unused Programs

If you don’t need a program, don’t keep it on your computer. Uninstalling unused applications can help free up disk space and improve performance. An easy way to do this is to launch Settings, then click on Apps in the left menu, and then click on Installed Apps on the main page. Once you find a program you want to uninstall, press the three-dot icon, and select uninstall.

4. Disable Startup Programs

Some programs will start automatically when you turn on your computer. This can slow down your system’s boot time and performance. Use the Task Manager to disable unnecessary startup applications.

1. On your keyboard press CTRL+ALT+DEL

2. In the window that opens up, select Task Manager

3. In Task Manager, select Startup Apps on the left menu

4. Select the App you want to Disable/Enable and then click the Disable/Enable at the top of the screen

5. Disable Visual Effects

Windows 11 includes many visual enhancements, such as transparency and animations, which can slow down your system. Disable these effects in the Performance Options menu to get a speed boost. Follow these steps to disable animation effects in Windows 11:

1. Open Settings

2. Then go to Accessibility > Visual effects

3. Turn off the “Animation effects” toggle switch to disable them

4. You can also turn off “Transparency effects” in the same window for a boost in speed

6. Defragment Your Hard Drive

Over time, your hard drive becomes fragmented and can cause slowdowns. Use the built-in Disk Defragmenter to reorganize your files and improve performance. This is only applicable if you have a HDD (hard disk drive). If you have an SSD (solid-state drive), do not defrag your SSD as it won’t do anything but use up your write cycles.

Open Disk Defragmenter by clicking the Start button . In the search box, type Disk Defragmenter, and then, in the list of results, click Disk Defragmenter.
Under Current status, select the disk you want to defragment.
To determine if the disk needs to be defragmented or not, click Analyze disk. If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Once Windows is finished analyzing the disk, you can check the percentage of fragmentation on the disk in the Last Run column. If the number is above 10%, you should defragment the disk.
Click Defragment disk. If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

7. Enable Ready Boost

ReadyBoost is a feature in Windows 11 that uses a USB flash drive to improve system performance. Simply plug in a compatible USB drive and enable ReadyBoost to get a speed boost.

This is how to enable ReadyBoost:

Plug your USB flash drive to the PC.
Double-click Computer.
Right-click on the drive letter associated with your USB flash drive.
Select Properties.
Click the ReadyBoost tab.
Select Use this device.
Move the slider to allocate the free space for ReadyBoost use.
Click OK when done.

8. Adjust Virtual Memory

Virtual memory can help your system run more smoothly if you don’t have enough RAM. Adjust the settings in the System Properties window to make sure your system is using optimal virtual memory settings.

Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Head to System > About.
Select Advanced system settings.
Under Performance, select Settings.
Open the Advanced tab. Under Virtual memory, select Change. Here are your Virtual Memory options.

9. Add More RAM

If your system is still running slowly, then adding more RAM may be the solution. Make sure to buy compatible RAM and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing it.

10. Use An SSD

Solid State Drives (SSDs) are much faster than traditional hard drives and can significantly improve your system’s performance. If you’re willing to invest in an SSD, then it’s definitely worth the money. By following these tips, you can get the most out of Windows 11 and make sure your system is running as fast as possible. If you’re still having performance issues, then it may be time to consider upgrading your hardware.

11. Turn Off App Notifications

By default, Windows comes with notification features that take up system power but aren’t necessarily required, for example, notifications on app startup, to confirm settings or printer notifications. To speed up Windows 11, you can disable these features altogether by doing the following:

Access the start menu.
Select “Settings”.
Click on “System” in the left-hand menu.
Open “Notifications” and move the slider to “Off”.

12. Reset Windows 11

If you are unable to fix your performance issues with the listed options, you can consider resetting the operating system. This option could help fix more serious issues in a system and thus make Windows 11 perform faster. However, before you decide to take such last-resort measures, you should do two things first:

Create a system backup of your files, using the Windows 11 Backup function.
Try to repair the system using the Troubleshooter (“Settings” > “System” > “Troubleshooting”).

Once you backed up all files and have attempted to troubleshoot without success, follow these steps to reset Windows 11:

Open Settings via the start menu or using the key combination [Windows] key + [i].
Select “Recovery”.
Press the “Reset PC” button.
Select whether you want to delete your personal files as part of the reinstallation or not.
Specify whether you want Windows 11 to reinstall locally from the device or via cloud download.
Click “Next” and finally “Reset PC”.

By following these tips, you can get the most out of Windows 11 and make sure your system is running as fast as possible. If you’re still having performance issues, then it may be time to consider upgrading your hardware.