If you’re finding that your Windows 10 device is constantly lagging or taking minutes to perform tasks that should be almost instant it can be rage-inducing.
Windows 10 is a remarkably efficient operating system, but it’s still prone to the slowdown that can make using your laptop or desktop a chore. It’s understandable, of course; Windows 10 has plenty of systems all competing for your device’s resources, and that’s before we even talk about bloatware.
If you’re using a Windows 10 device every day, odds are there’s plenty of temporary files and additional programs that alongside the core functions of the OS are putting a significant strain on your machine. This is even more of a problem if you’re using older or less powerful hardware.
Don’t worry, you’re not doomed to a lifetime of slow loading and crawling through menus, as there are several things you can do to give your device a jolt. You don’t even need to be a computing whiz to do most of this stuff either.
As a first option, you could boot into safe mode; just follow our guide on how to boot into Windows 10 safe mode if you’re unsure of the process. If you’ve already tried that, or just want alternatives, below you’ll find several tips and tricks that you can use to speed up Windows 10.
Restart your device
You’d be surprised how many users don’t regularly restart their Windows 10 device. With the inclusion of sleep and low-power modes on most modern devices, it’s easy to go weeks without doing a full reset of your device.
This can dramatically slow down your device as it essentially never gets a break and processes carry on in the background nonstop. We’d recommend doing a full shutdown at least once a day if possible.
Make sure you close any running programs and save any required work before doing so, of course.
Check for Windows 10 updates
Constant updates might seem like a pesky annoyance, but Windows 10 is asking you to update for a reason. These updates fix common bugs and issues that could be causing your device to slow down. Here's how to check for a Windows 10 update:
1. Open Settings. You can easily find Settings using the search bar in the left-hand corner of your screen.
2. Select Update & Security. From the Settings menu locate the Update & Security submenu, there's a search bar at the top of the window if you're having any trouble locating it.
3. Click Check of updates. At the top of the Update & Security submenu, your device will tell you if you're fully up to date, and if not you can manually begin updating by pressing the "Check for updates" button. Make sure you’ve saved all required work beforehand, and be prepared for the process to take a little time as well.