Speed Up Computer Performance With These 6 Tips

Do you find yourself booting up your computer each day, only to wait endless minutes for it to get up and running? Worse still, do you launch programs and constantly deal with them freezing or crashing? These aren't just annoyances — they're signs from your PC, telling you it's time to speed up your system. And, if you're like many, you might be wondering how to speed up computer performance for Windows, 7, 8 and 10 operating systems.

The good news is that there are many subtle things that you can do to simply speed up your operating system. Taking the time to do these 6 simple tasks will help in speeding up computer programs, preventing crashes and keeping your entire PC running smoothly:

1. Clear caches

Caches are simply collections of temporary data that your computer programs use to help load things faster. For example, your web browser might cache the design elements of a web page you visit frequently, so that each time you visit that page it's able to load the site quickly for you. The problem is, the more things your computer caches, the more memory and processing power it's dedicating to these conveniences.

Clearing your caches periodically — every few days — will instantly free up memory and help your computer process other things. Don't worry, your caches will build back up over time so your programs load quickly again!

2. Defragment your drive

Computers don't always store data in groups. In fact, they tend to store it in the first accessible place. This means that your data isn't always clumped together and when you try to access it, it may take longer for your computer to process it. This is called fragmenting.

Defragmenting your hard drive is the act of helping your computer properly group all of the fragmented data so it can be accessed more completely, quickly. If you're wondering how to speed up computer programs, this is the easiest method! It's a good idea to defragment every couple of weeks.

3. Manage startup items

Depending on your computer or what programs you have installed, startup items can be a major source of slowdown for your system. Trying to launch startup items can dramatically slow your computer's startup process and bog down its RAM after startup. By going through and disabling or uninstalling unnecessary launch items, you'll be having your computer's processing power for more important things.

If you're ever wondering, "how can I speed up my PC for free?" managing startup items is a simple solution that can have an immediate impact. Your computer will have more RAM to use elsewhere, speeding up things like your programs and media.

4. Clean up unwanted programs

Unwanted or antiquated programs can take up space on your hard drive and make it hard for your computer to run efficiently. Going through and clearing out what you don't use is a great way to keep your hard disk neat and tidy, freeing up speed to be used elsewhere. This is something you can do each and every day to help optimize your computer's performance and make sure it's running at peak efficiency.

5. Run a virus scan

You might not realize it, but viruses and other malware may be present in your computer's operating system, leeching its speed and performance. Not only do these malicious programs cause privacy concerns, they also zap your computer's speed to the point where even simple tasks take an extreme amount of processing power.

Discovering and deleting corrupted files and viruses is as simple as doing a virus scan and making sure to perform one weekly will keep your computer free and clear of dangerous programs. Without these infectious bytes bogging down your computer, it's sure to run smoother and quicker, giving you peace of mind about your data as well.

6. Install MyCleanPC

The easiest answer to questions like 'how to speed up computer and laptops for free' can be found in a reputable PC cleaner like MyCleanPC. Installing our simple program gives you the ability to unlock the fullest speed potential of your computer — all with just a few clicks of the mouse! Instead of having to run individual tasks — like defragmenting, cleaning caches and more — MyCleanPC takes care of it all for you. Running the program every few days will serve to knock out all of your routine speed-related tasks, ensuring your PC is running as quickly as possible at all times.

Your PC may slow down with age and use, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for snail speeds and constant problems! Give the 6 quick tips above a try and experience a faster, more responsive computer in just a few short minutes!