How To Speed Up Windows 11

Windows 11 runs faster than previous Microsoft operating systems. However, that doesn’t mean that your computer will always perform tasks as quickly as it should. In life, there are few things more frustrating than trying to get work done on a lagging machine.

Fortunately, there are a few tips and tricks you can use to speed up Windows 11. Here’s what to do if your PC decides to test the limits of your patience.

Change the Power Settings

Many people use a power saver option that could slow down the PC. This feature can be changed to reduce the system’s power consumption, thus solving the speed problems you’re experiencing. Altering this feature to a more performance-oriented power plan could do the trick.

Here’s how it’s done:

1. Open the Control Panel and tap “System & Security.”
   
2. Select “Power Options” and click the dropdown arrow displayed.
   
3. Press “Show additional plans,” then pick “High Performance.”
   

Disable Start-Up Programs

One way to improve the performance of Windows 11 is to remove the pre-installed start-up programs. Doing so will prevent these fully-operational programs from slowing the computer. You should find programs that you rarely use and uninstall them from the PC.

These steps will show you how to do that:

1. Open task manager by simultaneously pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
   
2. Click the “Start-up” tab in the window that opens.
   
3. Scroll down the list of programs and right-click on the ones you would like disabled.
   
4. Hit the “Disable” button.
   

These programs will no longer be launched when you start your computer.

Turn off Windows Tips & Tricks

Many people who use Windows 11 regularly are bombarded with suggestions about getting the most out of the system. While these tips can help improve the system, they can also impact the operational speed of your device. Turning off Tips & Tricks will help your computer run faster.

1. From the Start menu, click on “Settings.”
   
2. Navigate to “Systems,” then tap “Notifications & Actions.”
   
3. Scroll to “Get tips, tricks and suggestions as you use Windows” and toggle the slider to the OFF position.
   

Prevent OneDrive From Syncing

One Drive is a Microsoft cloud-based storage tool used in most computers running on Windows. It ensures that the files in your system are up to date and are always synchronized. It is also a good backup tool in case of hardware damage. OneDrive constantly syncs in the background, an action that could be slowing down your device.

To prevent this from happening, follow these steps:

1. Go to OneDrive and right-click on the icon.
   
2. From the menu that pops up, tap “Unlink the system.”

It’s important to note that preventing OneDrive from syncing with your PC means that your files will no longer be automatically saved to the cloud storage.

Switch Off Search Indexing

One of the many capabilities that Windows 11 has is its indexing feature. It helps you find files in a fast and efficient manner. However, it can also impact on your PC’s speed. Follow these steps to turn off indexing:

1. Go to the Start menu search box and enter “services.msc.”
   
2. Navigate to the Service app that appears and double-click on the Windows search or indexing service icon. It looks like an open webpage with an arrow pointing to the left.
   
3. Tap the “Stop” button.
   

You’ll need to reboot your device for the changes to take effect.

Run Disk Clean-Up

A cluttered hard disk can affect the performance of Windows 11. One of the easiest ways to solve this issue is by removing unwanted files. This process can be accomplished by running a system clean-up procedure.

1. Open “Settings,” then click “Systems,” then “Storage.”
   
2. Scroll to “Storage Sense” and toggle the switch to the ON position.
   

Files that have not been used in more than a month and the documents in your recycle bin will be deleted automatically.

Windows will also allow you to choose how space is freed up on your computer. This setting will save you the hassle of manually deleting these unwanted files. To make this selection, scroll to the “Change how to free up space” section located right under “Storage Sense.” You can choose whether you would like the clean-up to be carried out daily, weekly, or monthly.

Deleting your old version of Windows will also free up space on your device, helping to speed up the system. All you need to do is click the box at the bottom of the storage screen marked “Delete previous Windows version.”

Clean Out the Registry

The Registry is a device component commonly used to keep track of all your system’s activities. It also serves as a vital information bank for storing all your essential files and locations.

Cleaning up the Registry regularly is vital as it contains the settings of the previously deleted programs from your PC. These programs may be gone, but their settings are still stored on your device. The simplest way to clean the Registry is by downloading a Registry cleaner. However, before doing so, ensure that you have backed up any files and settings that you may still be using.

To back up the Registry, input “Regedit.ext” into the search box and hit “Enter.” This will open the Registry’s editor. Right-click on a folder you would like to save and tap “Export.”

Once your data has been backed up, you can download and install a Registry Cleaner like Restoro PC Repair Tool. Follow the instructions described in the program to clean up the Registry. Your computer should run more efficiently once the clean-up has been completed.

Disable Special Effects

One method for speeding up Windows 11 is to wholly or partially disable the various special effects added to the operating system. These effects may provide an enjoyable user experience, but they can affect the overall performance of your PC.

This is how you can turn off special effects in Windows 11:

1. Go to the search box, input “sysdm.cpl,” then press “Enter.”
   
2. In the “System Properties” window that opens, tap on “Advanced.”
   
3. Scroll to the “Performance” section and click “Settings.”
   
4. Select “Adjust for best performance,” then hit “OK.”
   

Windows will automatically turn off the special effects that may be slowing down your PC.

Consult the Performance Monitor

The Performance Monitor tool can help you monitor and improve the performance of your Windows 11 PC. It will give you detailed information about the various issues affecting your system.

To access the report, go to the search box and type in “Perfmon/report,” then hit “Enter.” Look for issues with a warning icon and follow the prompts given by the Performance Monitor to rectify the problem.

Let’s Fix the Problem

There could be many reasons why your Windows 11 application may not be working as well as it should. Knowing some simple and effective fixes can help you get rid of these issues and improve the overall performance of your PC. With a few tweaks here and there, you can once again use your computer without fighting the urge to throw it out of the window.

Have you sped up a Windows 11 PC? What method did you use? Let us know in the comments section below.