How to speed up Windows for better performance

Windows performance slowdowns commonly come from startup overload, low free storage, and background tasks competing for CPU, memory, and disk. Targeted cleanup and configuration changes reduce overhead, shorten sign-in time, and keep everyday workloads responsive without drastic measures.

Windows starts user sessions by launching startup apps, scheduled tasks, and services, then continues running update, indexing, and security components in the background. Meaningful speed gains usually come from cutting unnecessary startup items, removing unused applications, freeing disk space, and keeping drivers and system files in a healthy state.

Some tweaks trade visual polish or battery life for responsiveness, especially on laptops. Administrative repair commands are generally safe when used as shown, but removing optional features can disable functionality such as printing or legacy components. Screens and labels match Windows 11 with minor wording differences on Windows 10.

GUI tuning focuses on reducing background load, reclaiming storage headroom, and keeping updates current using built-in Windows tools.

1. Open Task Manager using Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
2. Select Startup apps in Task Manager.
3. Sort the list by Startup impact.

   High impact entries typically delay sign-in the most.

4. Disable an unnecessary startup entry using Disable.

   Avoid disabling security software, touchpad/keyboard utilities, or vendor hotkey services.

5. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
6. Select the app menu for an unused application and choose Uninstall.

   Removing unused apps reduces background updaters and frees storage.

7. Open View advanced system settings from Start search.
8. Select Settings under Performance in System Properties.
9. Select Adjust for best performance and click Apply.

   Re-enable specific effects manually if readability is impacted.

10. Open Settings → System → Storage.
11. Open Temporary files in the Storage page.
12. Select temporary file categories to remove and click Remove files.

    Keep Downloads unchecked unless the files are backed up elsewhere.

13. Open Storage Sense in the Storage page.
14. Enable Storage Sense for automatic cleanup.

    Automatic cleanup maintains free space for updates and paging.

15. Open Settings → System → Power.
16. Set Power mode to Best performance.

    On laptops, higher power mode increases battery drain and heat.

17. Open Settings → Windows Update.
18. Select Check for updates.
19. Install available updates in Windows Update.

    Many performance and driver fixes ship through cumulative updates.

20. Open Advanced options → Optional updates → Driver updates.
21. Install needed driver updates from the optional list.

    Prefer vendor GPU drivers for gaming or workstation workloads when required.

22. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection.
23. Run a Quick scan.
24. Restart Windows to apply pending updates.
25. Review Startup apps in Task Manager after restart.

System repair and integrity checks address corruption and disk issues that can cause persistent sluggishness, update failures, or unstable performance.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator from Start search.

   Interrupting servicing operations can leave repairs incomplete and extend recovery time.

2. Scan the component store for corruption using DISM.

   C:\Windows\System32> DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
   
   Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
   Version: 10.0.22621.1
   
   Image Version: 10.0.22621.1
   
   [==========================100.0%==========================]
   No component store corruption detected.
   The operation completed successfully.

3. Repair the component store using DISM.

   C:\Windows\System32> DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   
   Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
   Version: 10.0.22621.1
   
   Image Version: 10.0.22621.1
   
   [==========================100.0%==========================]
   The restore operation completed successfully.
   The operation completed successfully.

   DISM may require internet access to download repair content.

4. Verify and repair protected system files using SFC.

   C:\Windows\System32> sfc /scannow
   
   Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.
   
   Beginning verification phase of system scan.
   Verification 100% complete.
   
   Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

5. Scan the system volume for file system errors using CHKDSK.

   C:\Windows\System32> chkdsk C: /scan
   
   The type of the file system is NTFS.
   Volume label is Windows.
   
   Stage 1: Examining basic file system structure ...
     102400 file records processed.
   File verification completed.
   Stage 2: Examining file name linkage ...
   ##### snipped #####
   Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems.
   No further action is required.

6. Disable an unused Windows optional feature using DISM.

   C:\Windows\System32> DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:Printing-Foundation-Features /NoRestart
   
   Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
   Version: 10.0.22621.1
   
   Image Version: 10.0.22621.1
   
   [==========================100.0%==========================]
   The operation completed successfully.

   Disabling printing-related features prevents printing until the feature is re-enabled.

7. Restart Windows if any command reports a pending reboot.