Windows 10 might be the most popular OS in the world right now but one of the issues of the operating system is that it can get slow over time. In this guide, we are going to go over how you can tune Windows 10 and how you can make it run faster again. Free is always in budget and those are the solutions that we are going to look into.
How To Fix Windows 10 Running Slow Without Spending Money
Windows OS can slow down due to multiple reasons which include malware, unnecessary registry files stacking up and more. The following are the different methods that you can use in order to tune Windows 10 if it has got slow over time.
Fix #1: Third-Party Tune-Up Utility Tools
You can use third-party tune-up utility tools to make Windows 10 faster. The interface of these programs is easy to use and they can fix multiple issues with a single click or easy setup. Iolo System Mechanic is a perfect example of such a tool. This is ideal for easy system-cleaning. There are plenty of third-party tune-up utility tools that you can use. Some are paid but others are free to use.
Fix #2: Defragment and Optimize Drives
Defragmenting and optimizing drives can decrease load times and make Windows 10 faster. All you have to do is open up the Defragment software and click on Defragment and Optimize Drives. Once you do that, you need to select the drives that you want to optimize. Click Analyze and the program will then analyze your system storage. After the process has been completed, you can click on Optimize to begin the repair process.
Note that you should only do this for HDDs and not SSDs. Also, you can automate the process to defrag your storage daily, weekly or monthly.
Fix #3: Activate Storage Sense
This feature is disabled by default but you can choose to turn it on. Doing so will help you keep your Windows 10 system up to speed. Storage Sense will delete unwanted files that are not used. These include unimportant files that are in the recycle bin and temporary files that have been downloaded. This is especially useful if you find yourself out of storage all the time.
You can find the option in System Settings and you can even set how often Storage Sense is going to make changes. It is more effective than the Windows Disk Cleanup option and it does all the work automatically which is an added bonus.
Fix #4: Control Programs That Launch At Startup
One of the reasons why your Windows 10 system is running slow is that there are plenty of programs that need to launch when you boot your computer. In order to fix the issue, you can disable these programs and manually launch them when needed. Press Ctrl-Shift-Esc to bring up the task manager and click on the “Startup” tab. Disable all the programs listed here to get Windows 10 or Windows 7 boot fast.
Note that you should disable the programs that are marked high impact unless you use them regularly. You can launch these programs manually at any time.
Fix #5: Use Anti-Malware Software To Clean Windows 10
If you have tried all these fixes and Windows 10 is still running slow then there is a chance that your OS has been infected with malware. You will have to use anti-malware software to clean things up. Some anti-malware programs are paid but there are free options as well. Malwarebytes Free is a perfect example of free anti-malware software that is easy to use and will get the job done.
These are all the ways in which you can speed up Windows 10 if it has gotten slower over time. If you are facing other common errors with Windows or hardware then check out our hub for commonly occurring PC errors and issues.