5 Simple Fixes to Speed Up Your Slow Computer
A slow computer can be frustrating, especially when it makes it hard to get things done and stops you from being productive. There are, however, easy ways to speed up your device that don't require you to know a lot about computers. This article talks about five simple fixes that can help improve the speed of your computer.
- Tricia Quitales
- 2 min read
Over time, computers tend to slow down because of things like files that aren’t needed, old software, and heavy processes running in the background. There are easy things you can do to make your computer run faster. You can speed up and improve the usefulness of your computer by doing these five things: clearing the cache, managing startup programs, upgrading hardware, cleaning up the disk, and checking for malware. These simple fixes will not only make things better, but they will also make your device last longer.
1. Clear Cache and Temporary Files
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Your computer builds up temporary files and cache over time, which can slow it down. You can free up room on your hard drive and speed things up by regularly deleting these files. If you want to get rid of files that you don’t need, you can use built-in tools like Disk Cleanup or third-party software.
2. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs
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A lot of programs start up immediately when you turn on your computer, which uses up system resources. Turning off startup apps that you don’t need can make your computer run better. On Windows, you can change these settings in Task Manager. On macOS, you can do it in System Preferences.
3. Upgrade Your Hardware
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If your computer is still slow, you might need to get new tools for it. You can make your computer run much faster by adding more RAM or switching from a hard drive to a solid-state drive (SSD). These improvements don’t cost much and make the computer go faster.
4. Perform Disk Cleanup and Defragmentation
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Disk cleanup gets rid of things that you don’t need, and defragmentation makes your hard drive’s data easier to find. If you’re using a hard drive instead of an SSD, both of these tasks can make a big difference on how fast your computer runs. By doing these things on a regular basis, you can keep your computer fast and tidy.
5. Check for Malware and Viruses
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Running tasks in the background can slow down your computer when you have malware or a virus on it. These risks can’t get into your computer if you run regular antivirus scans and keep your software up to date. To keep bad programs from running, always use security software you can trust to find and get rid of them.