10 in 10: How to boost Windows 10 in 10(ish) minutes
Time is money, so we’ll make this quick. If your machine is running slowly you’re losing billable hours.
Get to work on these eight simple tweaks to significantly boost your PC’s performance.
Clear your cookies + browsing history
We’ve all seen the popups. Every single site now collects some form of cookies to “optimise performance,” even at the expense of your own. As a remedy, aim to routinely clear your cache at least every few months.
Audit your web browser
Not all web browsers are created equal. If you’re experiencing lag time, try switching to see if loading speeds improve.
Identify which programs start up automatically
Windows 10 task manager is your best friend here. It lets you see which programs run when you boot up and the amount of RAM needed to power them. Right-click on any needy applications to have them run on command only.
Download a tune-up utility
PCMag recommends running a vetted third party system to speedup and clean up utilities on Windows 10. Just beware of downloads making unrealistic claims. Many are malicious and can compromise your security.
Perform a disk clean up
You don’t need every file on your computer. The Disk Cleanup feature flags applications and files you haven’t used in some time, freeing up space for your most important programs.
Change the power settings to high performance
It may use a little more energy, but a high performance power setting can really speed things along. Find the setting by going to app’s
System > Power & Sleep > Additional Power > Show Additional Plans > High Performance
Run troubleshooters and maybe try a fresh start..
Go to Settings App > Troubleshoot. You have the option to do this manually or automatically. You can also visit the Control Panel > Security > Maintenance > Start Maintenance. Still moving slowly? Try simply shutting down for a few minutes and restarting. (That last bit of advice is a cliché for a reason!)
Change the performance options
From the start menu search box, type “adjust appearance.” Choose the overall best performance button, or just keep the effects you love most. Speed is a sign your system is optimal. With these minor adjustments, you can take matters into your own hands and make major performance improvements.