How to optimize your Windows laptop for optimal performance

Get the most out of your Windows laptop

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Getting your laptop to top performance can be a difficult task even with thebest Windows laptops,especiallywhen working withWindows 11as the OS. It’s especially important when you’ve taken advantage of one of manyBlack Friday dealsand have a brand-new portable machine that just won’t stop freezing and stuttering.

However, as you learn about the wide variety of features and tools hidden and not-so-hidden within the OS, it becomes apparent that there are plenty of ways to improve both speed and performance.

We’ve collected the best tips and tricks that are all nearly guaranteed to optimize thebest laptopsfor optimal performance, whether you’re using your laptop for productivity work, you have thebest gaming laptopwith the latest specs, a laptop made for creative projects, video editing, or one of thebest 2-in-1 laptops.

One important point is to avoid using registry cleaners, which usually pop up as “Speed up your PC!” ads. EvenMicrosoftwarns against using them and for good reason, as they’re often filled with malware that will not only slow down your laptop even more but steal your precious data to boot.

Steps for how to optimize your Windows laptop

Tools and Requirements

Step by step guide

1. Install the latest Windows 11 updates

One of the main reasons for a lagging OS is that it’s out of date. It’s easy to check for any new updates by simply clicking on theStartbutton, then selectingSettings>Windows Update>Startbutton, then selectingSettings>Windows Update>Check for updates.

You can see from there what new updates are available, including optional ones through theAdvanced optionssection.

2. Uninstall bloatware

Bloatware, also known as PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) and by less savory names, are programs that are automatically installed on a PC or laptop by either the manufacturer or the retailer selling it. And they tend to run in the background, causing massive slowdown.

Click on theStartbutton, thenSettings>Apps. Click on the three dots to the right of the app and then clickUninstall.

3. Disable unneeded startup programs

Another common yet massive cause of slowdown is a large number of programs running automatically in the background upon start-up.

The fastest way to disable several currently running programs in the background is by openingTask Managerby holding downCtrl + Alt + Delon the keyboard.

You can also stop programs from starting automatically in the first place by clicking theStartbutton, and then selectingSettings>Apps>Startup.From there you select the program you want to keep from starting up and selectOff.

4. Enable Fast Startup

Fast Startup is a handy feature that allows for Windows computers and laptops to boot up faster. When you shut down your PC, the feature instead puts it in hibernation mode, allowing it to boot more quickly. Normally, it works as intended and does speed up your laptop.

However, there are rare cases of itmalfunctioning and causing issuesthat range from difficulty installing Windows updates to not being able to access BIOS settings. If you end up having those problems, it’s best to disable it.

5. Check for viruses and malware

Viruses and malware are always a threat to laptops and can cause major slowdowns as well. To ensure that you have no such issues with your own laptop, you can run scans through Windows Security. Click theStartbutton, and thenSettings>Privacy & security>Windows Security, and then selectOpen Windows Security.

From there selectVirus & threat protection, then selectProtection updatesunderVirus & threat protection updates. On theProtection updatesscreen, selectCheck for updatesto make sure you have the most recent updates.

Finally, selectVirus & threat protection, then selectQuick scan. If you need a more in-depth scan, then that’s also available through more advanced options.

6. Change Power Mode

A super easy way to immediately increase speed and performance for your laptop is by changing the power mode.

Click on theStartbutton, and thenSettings>System>Power & Battery, and then scroll down toPower, click the dropdown arrow on the right of thePower modeoption, and selectBest performance.

7. Add more RAM or use ReadyBoost

Another reason for a poorly optimized laptop could simply be that you’re running low on memory or RAM, which means that there’s less space for programs to run on whether in the background or not.

Some laptops are upgradable, meaning you can open them up and add more RAM yourself, though it’s more difficult to do than on a desktop PC.

Another option is usingReadyBoost, which lets you use a USB drive to add more RAM instead. Insert the USB into your laptop, open File Explorer, click onThis PCin the left menu panel, right-click the removable drive and selectProperties, click theReadyBoosttab, and then selectUse this device.

8. Restore from a System Restore Point

Sometimes, there’s no fixing what went wrong with your laptop, especially if malware embedded itself in it. At that point, you’ll need to go back in time to essentially undo whatever was installed in your machine in the first place by using a feature calledSystem Restore.

Search on the taskbar, typeadvanced system, then selectView advanced system settingsfrom the list of results. On theSystem Protectiontab, selectSystem Restore.

SelectRecommended restoreto go with the most recent restore point Windows generated automatically, orChoose a different restore pointto select one yourself, then selectNext.

If you choose to select a different restore point, select one, then selectNext. Then selectFinishto begin restoring.

9. Use Disk Cleanup on temporary files

Disk Cleanupis another nifty feature that you can use to remove unneeded files bogging down your laptop.

To access it, typecleanupin the search taskbar, and selectDisk Cleanupfrom the results. Click the boxes next to each file you want to delete, selectOK, and thenDelete Files.

10. Change appearance through Performance Options

Some users would rather keep their appearance options to customize their laptops to their liking. However, it can also be a source of slowdown and some may rather disable said options altogether.

Typeadvanced systeminto the searchTaskbarand clickView advanced system settingsfrom the results. Click onSettingsunderPerformance, selectAdjust for best performance, then clickOKandOKagain.

Final thoughts

There are plenty of other ways to optimize your laptop, like running a troubleshooter, turning off search indexing, turning off tips and notifications, enabling game mode if you’re using a gaming laptop, pausing OneDrive syncing, managing the page file size, optimizing and defragmenting your drives, and more.

Keep in mind, however, that you don’t need to do every single one of these steps to boost performance. Most of the time just a few of these options are more than enough to properly optimize your laptop. The best course of action is to try out the one or two steps, and then test it to see if it worked.

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Named by the CTA as a CES 2023 Media Trailblazer, Allisa is a Computing Staff Writer who covers breaking news and rumors in the computing industry, as well as reviews, hands-on previews, featured articles, and the latest deals and trends. In her spare time you can find her chatting it up on her two podcasts, Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, as well as playing any JRPGs she can get her hands on.

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