If you clicked on this article, chances are you are struggling with your laptop that seems to have suddenly given up on you. Having used a decade-old Lenovo Windows laptop myself, I get this feeling all too well. So if you are thinking of buying a completely new laptop (even though you don’t want to), here is some good news. There are a couple of things you can try before spending your hard earned money on a new device. These hacks are free, take only a few minutes, and can actually make your PC feel much smoother. Now without wasting any more time, read on.
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One of the easiest ways to speed up a Windows PC is also the one most people ignore. If your storage is nearly full, Windows has less room to manage temporary files and everyday tasks, which can make the system feel slower over time.
Just head over to Settings, then click on System and finally, Storage. Now check out how much free space is left on each drive. It is recommended to keep at least 30% of your storage space free for Windows to work flawlessly. And if you see that isn’t the case, it is time to deep clean your PC. Remove those apps you almost never use, delete those old images that you won’t be needing anymore, and comb through those heavy files that are taking up way too much space.
Windows also has a built-in solution called Storage Sense. It automatically clears temporary files, cache and other unnecessary data without touching your important documents.
As for the temporary files, open the Run window by pressing the Windows key followed by R. Then, type %temp% in the box and hit enter. Now, delete everything that you see. And thank us later.
Have you noticed how the moment you turn your PC on, you can see your wallpaper but it still feels busy for another minute? This happens because dozens of apps quietly launch in the background the moment Windows starts. Messaging apps, game launchers, cloud sync tools and other software all compete for your PC’s resources before you even open Chrome.
To fix this, it is a good idea to disable these apps the moment you turn your PC on. Just go to Settings then Apps and finally, Startup. Now, switch off the apps you do not need every single day. I usually keep security software enabled, but everything else has to earn its place. If an app only gets opened once a week, there is no reason for it to slow down every boot.
A slow PC is not always a hardware problem. Malware, spyware and unwanted software can quietly consume CPU, memory and storage while running in the background. That means your laptop could be working hard even when you are doing almost nothing.
The good news is that you do not need a paid antivirus to check. Windows Security is already built into Windows 11. Simply head over to Settings, then Privacy & Security and finally, Windows Security. Now here, open Virus & threat protection, update the security definitions and run a quick scan. It only takes a few minutes and can rule out one of the biggest hidden causes of poor performance.
Even if your PC looks perfectly fine, making this scan part of your monthly routine is a good habit. It is much easier to prevent problems than fix them later.
PS: Do remember that none of these tricks will turn a decade-old laptop into a brand new machine overnight. But together, they can make your Windows PC feel cleaner, faster and far less frustrating to use.
Also read: 3 Windows settings you should change now to declutter your PC