Make Your Computer Run Faster: Expert-Backed Tips

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Speed up your Windows PC and Mac with these simple tricks
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Is your computer slowing down, whizzing, and whirring as it tries to keep up with you? Before you spend hundreds or even thousands on a new computer, you may find it only takes a few simple steps to make your Windows or Mac computer run faster. We've also included some advice from tech industry experts on how to speed up your computer. Read on to learn some simple tricks that you can use to boost your computer's performance.

How can I make my computer run fast again?

To improve your computer's performance, keep it updated with the latest security patches and software, and driver updates. Boost its speed by closing unnecessary apps and browser tabs, preventing apps from starting up automatically when your computer starts, and deleting unused apps and temporary files.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Before You Begin

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  1. Back up your computer . Many of us have what feels like our entire lives stored on our computers—photos of cherished memories, the evolution of our musical taste, school work, tax returns, and, more and more, everything we need to do our work. Before making any major changes, it is always a good idea to back up essential files. [1]
    • Purchase an external hard drive that is larger than the hard drive you want to back up. [2] Inserting the USB of the external hard drive should automatically prompt your computer to give you the option to use the drive for backup. If you need more help, read the wikiHow article about how to back up a hard drive.
    • If you are worried about losing or damaging an external hard drive, you can back up important files online. Subscribe to a secure backup service, or a cloud-based service like Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox.
  2. . This can temporarily speed up a slow computer by refreshing the memory. Restart, or completely shut down the computer, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on. [3]
    • Make sure you save any projects you are working on before turning off your computer!
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  3. Computers get dusty after a while. This can cause thermal throttling on the CPU and GPU. You can clean the inside of your computer using a can of compressed air and a dry microfiber rag. Before beginning, turn off your computer and unplug it from power. Remove the panel on the side of your computer tower or the bottom of your laptop. Use a can of compressed air to blow away all the excess dust in quick, short bursts. Use a dry microfiber rag to wipe away any remaining dust. [4]
    • Warning: Before touching anything inside your computer, be sure to ground yourself by touching something metal or wearing static wrist bands. Static discharge can permanently damage the electronic components of your computer.
    • Don't use any liquid cleaners. If there is dust or build-up that you can't remove using a dry microfiber rag, you can use a little bit of rubbing alcohol applied to the microfiber rag or alcohol swabs.
    • When cleaning your fans, hold them in place with your fingers. Don't let them spin when blowing or cleaning the fans.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Windows

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  1. Keep Windows up-to-date . Not only will this keep Windows itself running smoothly, but some viruses ride in on Windows updates that are downloaded long after the update is available (and therefore are not monitored as closely).
    • Keep in mind that using Windows 10 after Microsoft stops supporting it means your computer will eventually slow down. Windows 10 will no longer receive security or software updates, and Microsoft will no longer offer tech support for that OS after October 14, 2025. [5]
    • Your PC will still work, but you should consider upgrading to Win 11 to keep it running smoothly.
  2. Some programs may start as soon as you turn on your computer, running in the background, so they will load quickly when you open them. Use the following steps to disable startup programs:
    • Windows 10/11 :
      • Open Settings by pressing Win + I .
      • Click Apps .
      • Click Startup
      • Click the toggle next to apps to prevent them from opening as soon as you start your PC.
    • Windows 10 (Version 1709 or earlier):
      • Press Ctrl + Alt + Del and select Task Manager.
      • Click the Startup tab.
      • Click the app you want to prevent from opening as soon as your computer starts, and click Disable . [6]
  3. 3
    Only open the apps and tabs you need. Having multiple items open slows down your computer. Even if you only have one browser open, multiple open tabs can cause a slowdown. Even launching items and then closing them might default to simply minimizing them and putting them in the taskbar (like Discord does). To avoid this, restart your computer and then only open apps and tabs that you need.
  4. 4
    Check for program compatibility. Some programs, like games, might have been created for a different OS, like Win 8. In that case, running them slows down your computer. You can check the software maker's website for an updated version, but you can also use the built-in Program Compatibility Checker. Here's how to do that:
    • Search troubleshoot in your Start menu and click the "Troubleshoot settings" result, which is listed as "System settings."
    • Click Other (if you don't immediately see Program Compatibility Checker) > Program Compatibility Checker > Run/Run the troubleshooter .
    • Select the program that's slowing down your computer, and follow the troubleshooter to fix the issue.
  5. 5
    Use ReadyBoost on HDDs. If you have an HDD, you can use ReadyBoost to use a removable drive, like a USB flash drive, to improve your PC's performance without needing to add more RAM. Skip this step if you have a solid state drive (SSD). To start, you'll need a USB flash drive or memory card with at least 500 MB free, as well as a high data transfer rate. To use ReadyBoost:
    • Insert the USB flash drive or memory card.
    • Open File Explorer.
    • Right-click the USB flash drive or memory card.
    • Select ReadyBoost > Use this device .
      • You'll see an error if that card or drive won't work with ReadyBoost.
    • Click OK to reserve space on the drive or card for ReadyBoost.
      • When you look at the drive or card again in File Explorer, you'll see a ReadyBoost.sfcache that says how much space is reserved for ReadyBoost.
  6. 6
    Make sure your PC is managing the page file size. The paging file is a section that your PC uses like memory, so if this is incorrectly managed, your computer slows down. Windows usually does this automatically, but you can check to make sure everything is running smoothly. Here's how you can check that automatic page file management is on:
    • Search for advanced system in the Start menu.
    • Click the "View advanced system settings" result, which is listed as "Control panel."
    • Click the Advanced tab, then click Settings under "Performance."
    • Click the Advanced tab, then click Change under "Virtual Memory."
    • Make sure "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives" is checked.
    • If you need to, check it, then restart your PC.
  7. 7
    Check your hard disk space. As a rule, you want to keep at least 15% of the hard disk space free to keep the computer running smoothly. Use the following steps to check your hard disk space:
    • Open Settings by pressing Win + I .
    • Click System > Storage .
  8. 8
    Use Storage Sense to automatically delete unnecessary and temporary files. If you go to Settings > System > Storage , you will find Storage Sense, which will keep deleting temporary files and files that are in your recycling bin. You can turn it on so this runs at intervals or when your PC gets low on space.
    • Some temporary files help apps and programs open faster. Deleting them with Storage Sense will free up space, but it might make the app or program slower to load.
    • If you don't see Storage Sense, use Disk Cleanup.
  9. 9
    Remove any programs you do not use to free up space. Right-click an app in the Windows Start menu and click Uninstall or Installed apps . This opens the "Installed Apps" window in Settings. Scroll down to the app you clicked, select it (or the three-dot menu next to it), then click Uninstall .
  10. 10
    Empty your recycling bin. This might empty automatically every few days, but you want to empty it after uninstalling an app or deleting files to make room available immediately.
  11. Install an antivirus program , a spyware scanner , and an anti-malware program. The fewer bugs, viruses, and bits of adware your computer has to manage, the more time it will have to devote to other processes. [7]
    • Although the default security suite ( Windows Defender ) is beneficial, you can also use alternatives like Malwarebytes or Avast .
    • Digital forensic specialist Scott Nelson, JD, advises against clicking any pop-ups that tell you to download anti-virus software and to only download anti-virus software that you purchased on the website you purchased it from (like Newegg, Target, or Costco). [8]
  12. 12
    Disable visual effects. Animations and shadow effects look awesome, but they slow down your PC, especially if you have low RAM. To turn these off:
    • Search performance in the Start menu.
    • Click "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows" from the list of results.
    • Click the Visual Effects tab and click Adjust for best performance > Apply .
    • Restart your PC.
  13. 13
    Pause OneDrive syncing. If you have OneDrive active, you might want to pause it to see if your computer's performance improves. While syncing your files between your computer and OneDrive is super helpful so that you never lose data, it might be the culprit for your laggy computer. Here's how to pause the sync:
    • Click the OneDrive icon in your taskbar (it looks like a cloud).
    • Click … > Pause synching and choose how long to pause.
    • Restart your PC to see if pausing improved anything.
    • Resume syncing by clicking the OneDrive icon, then clicking … > Resume Syncing . [9]
  14. Solid State Drives are hard drives that have no moving parts. They are much quieter and quicker. Purchase the right-sized Solid State Drive for your computer and install it .
  15. Add RAM to your computer . Most computers come with 8 GB of RAM, but you can add more if you use it to run many applications. The extra RAM gives your computer more memory to perform tasks with, which will make your computer faster. In order to install RAM on your computer, you'll need to see what type of RAM your computer takes and purchase it. You'll then need to open your computer and install it.
    • To see if you need more RAM, initialize the Windows Task Manager by pressing " Ctrl + Alt + Del " and click Task Manager . Under the Performance tab, find the area devoted to Physical Memory (MB). If the number next to "Available" is less than 25% of the Total MB, you may need to add RAM. [11]
    • Adding more memory may not necessarily make your computer run faster. If your computer is slow to switch between windows or tasks, or if you often have many browser tabs open at once, additional RAM may help.
    • You can take your computer to an expert to add RAM, like the Geek Squad at Best Buy, or you may decide to add more RAM yourself . Just be sure to do your research before attempting to do it on your own.
  16. It could be that your computer is running slowly because of the old hardware that is running the newer software. When a computer was released, the hardware was designed to run a specific OS or software version. When newer versions of the software were released, it was supported by the older hardware. The reason your computer may be running slow or freezing is that the older hardware is struggling to keep up with the newer software. Try replacing the processor to speed up your computer.
    • While computer repair technician Spike Baron agrees that switching to an SSD and adding more RAM are key components to making your computer faster, he also believes that old and outdated components will also slow down your computer, like an old processor. [12]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Mac

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  1. This is one of the easiest steps that can improve your Mac's performance. Use Activity Monitor to find out which applications are using the most CPU so you can close them. Use the following steps to check which programs are using the most CPU:
    • Open the Finder.
    • Click Applications .
    • Click Utilities.
    • Launch the Activity Monitor by clicking it from the list of apps.
    • Click the CPU tab.
    • Click the % CPU column and see which programs are at the top. If it is using anything over 50%, running that program may slow everything down.
  2. The more programs trying to start up while your computer initializes, the slower everything will be. Use the following steps to disable startup programs on Mac: [13]
    • Click the Apple icon in the menu bar.
    • Click System Settings .
    • Click General
    • Click Login Items & Extensions.
    • Select any items you don’t need.
    • Click the minus ( - ) sign to remove them.
  3. Check your hard disk space . Try to keep at least 15% of your drive free so that your computer can run general maintenance. Use the following steps to check your hard drive space:
    • macOS 13 or later:
      • Click the Apple menu,
      • Select System Settings > General > Storage. [14]
    • macOS 12 or earlier:
      • Go to the Apple menu,
      • Click About This Mac .
      • Click the Storage tab. This will show you how much free space you have on your hard disk and will also break down your current usage, showing you how much space is used by your movie, music, photo, and app files. [15]
  4. You can either uninstall them manually by dragging apps into the trash from the Applications folder in the Finder or by downloading a program to help you sort and delete them .
    • If you discover that one particular application is slowing down your Central Processing Unit (CPU), you can speed things up by deleting that application and using a faster alternative, or closing all other programs every time you use that application.
    • Safari is often at the top of the list for CPU usage. Consider switching to a different browser, like Firefox or Chrome. [16]
    • When in doubt, don't remove anything you don’t recognize: it may be critical to the function of your computer or another application.
  5. Check your Movies, Music, Downloads, and Documents folders in the Finder to search for unnecessary files to delete or compress. Click the list icon (the icon with 4 lines) at the top. It says how big each file is in the "Size" column. You can delete unnecessary files by dragging them to the Trash.
    • To compress a file, right-click it and click Compress in the pop-up menu.
    • Open the Downloads folder. Make sure you are viewing files as a list, and then click on the Size header so that your largest files are on top. Get rid of anything you don't need. [17]
    • Movies are generally the largest files—they can be between 1-2GB. Consider removing anything you are not watching or plan to watch soon. [18]
    • Remember to empty your trash bin. If you delete photos in iPhoto or Aperture, you must empty the trash bin that exists in that program, or else the files will not be deleted. To empty the Trash bin, right-click it in the Dock and click Empty Trash . [19]
  6. This may be especially helpful if your computer is slow when opening applications or switching between running programs. [20] You can check your memory usage in the Activity Monitor app. Look at the colors of the pie chart: if it's mostly green and blue, your RAM is fine. If the pie chart is mostly red and yellow, you should consider installing more RAM . Use the following steps to check your RAM usage in the Activity Monitor app.
    • Click the Magnifying glass icon in the upper-right corner and
    • Enter "Activity Monitor" in the search bar.
    • Open the Activity Monitor App.
    • Check the "Memory Pressure" chart at the bottom.
    • To see what kind of RAM your Mac uses, go to the Apple menu, then click About This Mac, then More Info. Under Memory in the Hardware tab, you can find the memory size and type of RAM your computer uses.
  7. Solid State Drives are hard drives that have no moving parts. They are much quieter and quicker. Purchase the right-sized Solid State Drive for your computer and install it .
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    Why has my computer gotten so slow?
    Community Answer
    The more you use your computer, the more it becomes slow. Maybe it was infected by a malware or virus, or some processes that may slow down the computer, or you need to upgrade your hardware components. There are so many causes. Try checking the causes in the guide above.
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    How do I improve the performance of Windows 7?
    Community Answer
    Switch your OS (operating system) to an SSD for boot and an HDD for storage. Doing this will improve the speed. Also, add ram memory .
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    How can I speed up my web browser?
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    Delete any unnecessary cookies, and make sure that you are close to your wifi router. If you are using a laptop, try to connect to the router directly instead of going wireless.
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      Tips

      • A clean install of the operating system will make your computer run much faster, but it will erase all your files.
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      • It is best to create a System Restore point before you uninstall any programs or make any changes, so you can revert your computer to a safe point if anything goes wrong.
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      Warnings

      • Never delete system32 files on Windows . These are critical to running the operating system correctly, and you will be unable to use your computer unless you reinstall the operating system. Or worse, your PC would malfunction.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.cnet.com/uk/how-to/five-tips-to-speed-up-your-mac/
      2. ↑ http://www.cnet.com/news/top-external-storage-devices-backing-up-is-a-personal-matter/
      3. ↑ http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-restart-your-mac.html
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ded8DNlY1zA
      5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-update-faq-8a903416-6f45-0718-f5c7-375e92dddeb2#windowsversion=windows_10
      6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/tips-to-improve-pc-performance-in-windows-b3b3ef5b-5953-fb6a-2528-4bbed82fba96#category=windows_10
      7. ↑ http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/optimize-windows-better-performance#optimize-windows-better-performance=windows-7
      8. ↑ [vv161352_b03]. 2 April 2020.
      9. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/tips-to-improve-pc-performance-in-windows-b3b3ef5b-5953-fb6a-2528-4bbed82fba96#category=windows_10
      1. ↑ Matt Ham. Computer Repair Specialist. Expert Interview
      2. ↑ http://www.pcworld.com/article/2691193/do-the-research-before-you-upgrade-your-ram.html
      3. ↑ Spike Baron. Computer Repair Technician. Expert Interview
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-mo/guide/mac-help/mh15189/mac
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102624
      6. ↑ http://www.cnet.com/news/options-for-checking-free-hard-drive-space-in-os-x/
      7. ↑ http://www.macworld.com/article/2026650/mac-troubleshooting-what-to-do-when-your-computer-is-too-slow.html#tk.nl_mwhelp
      8. ↑ http://www.macworld.com/article/2599241/how-to-free-up-space-on-a-packed-hard-drive.html
      9. ↑ http://www.cnet.com/news/options-for-checking-free-hard-drive-space-in-os-x/
      10. ↑ http://www.macworld.com/article/2599241/how-to-free-up-space-on-a-packed-hard-drive.html
      11. ↑ http://www.macworld.com/article/1049263/speedram.html
      12. ↑ Chiara Corsaro. Computer Specialist. Expert Interview

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Back up your computer.
      2. Restart your computer.
      3. Delete unneeded files.
      4. Remove unused programs.
      5. Prevent programs from starting automatically.
      6. Switch your power plan to High Performance (Windows).
      7. Run anti-virus and anti-malware scans.
      8. Disable visual effects and animations.
      9. Remove unused languages (macOS).
      10. Add additional RAM.

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