How to make your computer faster: 12 ways to improve computer performance

Is your computer getting slower by the day? If so, you should clean up your PC to optimize its system and get it running smoothly again. Keep reading to learn how to make your computer faster and improve its performance. Then, get Norton Utilities Ultimate, a specialized cleanup app to make your computer faster, cleaner, and more reliable.

Whether you can’t open your favorite apps, your device is frozen, or you’ve been staring at the spinning wheel of death, nothing can be more frustrating than a slow computer.

And if you’ve experienced all of the above, we’re sure you’ve also tried the troubleshooting basics — restarting your Wi-Fi router or closing out all your applications.

If that still hasn’t helped, it’s likely you’ve desperately Googled “how to make your computer faster” and are willing to try anything to speed up your device.

Well, that search has led you to the right place, as we’ve compiled 12 steps you can take to boost your computer’s performance, including:

Whether you have a minute, an afternoon, or an entire day, these steps can help you increase the speed of your computer. Let’s troubleshoot, shall we?

1. Turn off auto-launching programs

By default, many applications are configured to launch whenever you power up your computer. With many apps starting to open at once, it can put a tremendous strain on your device’s computing power. This can make your computer feel slow and clunky. To prevent this, be sure to turn off auto-launching on any program you don’t want to start automatically.

2. Close out unneeded tabs

While it may be tempting to leave all of your internet tabs open for easy access, keeping a cluttered web browser can negatively impact your computer’s performance. When you leave a tab open, it is often running processes in the background that can slow down your computer even when you aren’t using it. To avoid this, regularly close out tabs you’re no longer using.

3. Update your operating system

In some cases, updating your operating system can help speed up an old computer. These updates often include bug fixes and security patches that help keep your device safe and up to speed. It’s important to remember that this step may have a reverse effect on some older devices. For example, a new software update may contain additional programs and features that could be hard for an older device to handle. To be safe, research the recommended computer requirements before updating.

4. Delete unnecessary files

Unnecessary applications and files can bog down your computer over time. One of the best ways to improve computer performance is to go through your files and delete anything you don’t need. Not only will this free up space on your hard drive, but it can also improve the speed of your device. If you wish to start from scratch, you may also wipe your old hard drive clean.

5. Utilize the cloud

If your hard drive is filling up and slowing down your computer, consider moving your files to the cloud. That way, you can free up space on your hard drive without having to delete anything. This option is also cheaper than upgrading your hard drive, as many cloud storage services offer free options, though usually with a storage limit.

6. Reinstall your operating system

Another way to make your computer faster is to reinstall your operating system. Some operating systems are known for slowing down over time. By reinstalling it, you’re giving your computer a fresh start. If you decide to go this route, make sure you back up any important files because reinstalling your operating system may wipe some or all of your files.

7. Clean the interior of your computer

Cleaning your computer is another great way to keep it running smoothly. If your hardware is kept unclean, it can become vulnerable to overheating and other issues that could impact the speed of your device. You can clean your computer by following these steps:

1. Power off and unplug your computer.
2. Dust the outside of your computer with a soft cloth.
3. If possible, remove the side panels of your computer.
4. Using a can of compressed air or a soft cloth, remove dust from the fans, vents, and filters.
5. Reinstall side panels or covers.

While you complete this process, pay close attention to any fans, vents, or filters, because that is where dust is likely to accumulate. By regularly cleaning your computer, you can help keep it cool and well-ventilated, which can help make a computer fast.

8. Install a solid-state drive

If you want to seriously speed up your computer, consider swapping out your traditional hard drive for a solid-state drive. By design, these types of hard drives are much faster and can even improve the speed of older devices. If you decide to make this upgrade, be sure you back up any important files to ensure nothing gets lost in the process.

9. Increase your RAM

Another factor that can determine your computer’s performance is the amount of RAM, or random access memory, it has. RAM is instrumental in allowing your computer to run multiple tasks at once tapaksuci, as it helps temporarily store important information. For example, upgrading from 2GB of RAM to 8GB can give you noticeably faster computer speeds.

10. Use an external hard drive

Much like cloud storage, using an external hard drive can help make a computer run faster. You can start by moving any large files such as videos and images, as they tend to take up a large chunk of your computer’s storage. With more free space on your internal hard drive, your computer’s performance and speed will likely improve.

11. Regularly restart your computer

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t restart or completely shut down your computer unless something is wrong. By using your computer’s sleep mode instead, you’re depriving it of the opportunity to get rid of temporary files and other crucial tasks that occur during your device’s start-up process. By regularly restarting your device, your computer can perform the maintenance tasks it needs to stay quick.

12. Run consistent security checks

A slow device is a common symptom of many cybersecurity threats, including computer viruses, adware, and spyware. Not only can they slow your device, but these types of malware may also violate your privacy and could lead to identity theft. To cover all of your bases, you can use trusted antivirus software to regularly run security checks. This can help detect any issues that may be slowing your device and keep you and your personal information safe.