The most effective Windows improvements cost nothing: install current updates and optional drivers, remove temporary files, control startup and background activity, use built-in shortcuts, scan for malware, and keep two copies of important data. The steps below are for Windows 11 and follow a sensible order, from quick navigation and performance fixes to storage, security, backup, and reset preparation.
If you still use Windows 10, note that Microsoft ended support on October 14, 2025. An unsupported installation no longer receives the normal Windows updates that these maintenance steps depend on, so moving to a supported Windows release should be part of your plan.
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Navigate Windows faster with these built-in shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts remove repeated trips through menus. Learn the combinations that match the way you work, then use them consistently.
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Press Windows key+E to open File Explorer immediately. It is faster than finding the folder icon when you need downloads, documents, an external drive, or a network location.
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Win+R, Win+S, and Win+I reach common tools
- Win+R opens the Run dialog for launching a command or app by name.
- Win+S opens Windows Search, which is useful for finding settings, utilities, files, and applications.
- Win+I opens Settings directly.
These three keys are especially useful when you know the name of what you want but not its location in the Settings hierarchy.
Alt+Tab and Win+Tab switch between workspaces
Alt+Tab cycles through open applications. Hold Alt and tap Tab until the desired window is highlighted, then release. Win+Tab opens Task View, where you can select open windows and manage virtual desktops. Use Alt+Tab for rapid switching and Win+Tab when you need a broader view of your workspace.
Win+D and Win+M control the desktop
Win+D shows or hides the desktop, making it a quick way to reach a file or shortcut behind your windows. Win+M minimizes windows. Win+D toggles back to the previous arrangement; Win+M is a one-way minimize command until you restore windows manually.
Make a slow Windows PC more responsive
When someone asks, “How can I make my Windows PC faster?”, start with maintenance that removes known causes of slowdowns before changing advanced settings. Work through these steps in order and restart when indicated.
1. Install Windows updates and optional driver updates
Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Install pending updates and restart when Windows requests it. Microsoft says Windows Updates often include fixes and performance improvements. When Windows displays them, also check Advanced options > Optional updates for driver updates. Read the available entries before installing; optional drivers are offered separately from the regular update queue.
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2. Run a Windows Security quick scan
Malware can consume processor and disk resources, so a scan is a useful performance check as well as a security measure. Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection, then choose Quick scan. Let the scan finish and follow Windows Security’s remediation instructions if it reports a threat. Do not close the security window simply because the PC feels slow; an unwanted process can continue using resources in the background.
3. Review startup apps in Task Manager
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager and select Startup apps. Review each item’s startup impact and disable programs that do not need to launch with Windows. Disable only software you recognize and do not need immediately after sign-in. A disabled startup item is not uninstalled; you can still open it manually when required.
4. Limit unnecessary background permissions
Some apps continue working when you are not actively using them. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select an app, open Advanced options, and set Background apps permissions to Never when the option is available and background activity is unnecessary. Not every desktop program exposes this control. Avoid changing permissions for apps that must sync, deliver alerts, or perform a task you rely on.
5. Reduce visual effects when responsiveness matters
Search Windows for Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows. In Performance Options, choose Adjust for best performance and apply the change. This reduces visual effects and can lower resource use, but windows and animations will look less polished. If the visual change is too stark, return to the same panel and enable only the effects you value.
6. Select Best performance power mode when plugged in
On a laptop connected to power, open Settings > System > Power & battery and set Power mode to Best performance. Microsoft warns that this mode uses more power, drains a laptop battery faster, and may increase heat. Use it for demanding work while plugged in; switch back to a balanced or battery-saving mode when portability and temperature matter more.
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7. Optimize the selected drive with Windows’ built-in tool
Search for Defragment and Optimize Drives. Select a drive, choose Optimize, and let the tool complete. Windows applies the appropriate optimization for the selected drive. Run it on the drive that contains Windows or on another drive that shows a need for optimization; do not interrupt the process unless the computer becomes unusable.
8. Use Task Manager to identify heavy processes
In Task Manager, inspect the Processes tab for unusually high CPU, memory, disk, or network use, then use Performance to see which resource is constrained. Check Startup apps as well. Before ending a process, identify the program and save your work. Closing a critical Windows process can cause instability, while closing a known, unresponsive application may restore responsiveness. If a process repeatedly consumes resources, update or uninstall the associated app rather than ending it every time.
9. Close unused apps and tabs, then restart
Close programs and browser tabs you no longer need. If the slowdown remains, restart Windows from the Start menu. Restarting clears a temporary buildup of processes and gives pending updates a chance to finish. Treat it as a final step after checking Task Manager, not as a substitute for investigating a recurring high-resource process.
Free space and prevent storage-related slowdowns
Storage maintenance is both a speed and reliability task. Microsoft notes that a PC running out of storage space may show slower performance or trouble installing Windows updates.
10. Turn on or run Storage Sense
Open Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense. Turn Storage Sense on, or run it from this page when you need an immediate cleanup. Review the categories it can remove and its schedule before confirming. Storage Sense targets temporary and other disposable files; it does not replace a personal backup.
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11. Clear temporary files with Settings and Disk Cleanup
In Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, review the proposed categories, select what you understand, and choose Remove files. For another built-in option, search for Disk Cleanup, select the Windows drive, review the list, and select Clean up system files for a second pass. Do not select a category unless you understand what it contains, particularly items related to downloads or previous Windows installations.
12. Uninstall applications you no longer use
Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, sort the list by size or installation date, select an unwanted application, and choose Uninstall. Removing unused software recovers storage and can reduce background activity. Keep applications you need for hardware control, security, accessibility, or work; if you are unsure what an entry does, identify it before removing it.
Keep security and interruptions under control
13. Silence notifications that do not help you
Open Settings > System > Notifications. Turn off notifications for apps that interrupt you without providing useful information, or adjust their priority and sound settings. Fewer alerts make it easier to concentrate and can slightly reduce background activity from apps that generate frequent notifications. Leave critical security and account alerts enabled.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Back up Windows before anything goes wrong
A faster PC is not useful if a failed drive or an ill-timed reset destroys your files. Microsoft describes Windows Backup as a built-in solution for backing up many important parts of a Windows PC.
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14. Configure Windows Backup
Open the Windows Backup app from Start and sign in with the Microsoft account associated with the backup. Review each category before starting:
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- Folders and files: select the personal folders you want protected.
- Settings: review which Windows preferences are included.
- Apps: review the applications or app information Windows offers to back up.
- Wi-Fi information: include saved network information if you want it available when restoring your setup.
Do not assume that opening the app automatically protects every file. Confirm what is selected and allow the backup to complete while the PC is connected to the internet and power.
15. Keep a second copy on an external drive or in cloud storage
Microsoft identifies both external drives and cloud storage as backup destinations. An external USB backup drive provides a physical copy you control and can access without waiting for an online service. Cloud storage is convenient for keeping a copy away from the computer and for reaching files from another device, but it depends on account access and an internet connection.
| Backup destination | Strength | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| External USB drive | Local, physical copy; useful when the PC cannot boot or the internet is unavailable | Can be lost, damaged, or affected by the same incident as the PC unless stored separately |
| Cloud storage | Off-device copy and convenient access from connected devices | Requires account access and an internet connection for upload or recovery |
| Windows Backup plus a second destination | Combines convenience with better recoverability | Requires you to configure and maintain both copies |
For irreplaceable documents and photos, keep the external copy disconnected when it is not being updated and store it somewhere separate from the computer. A second copy is valuable only if it contains the files you actually need and can be read when required.
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16. Back up before recovery actions
Reset and reinstall operations can cause data loss. Before choosing a recovery option, enable Windows Backup and protect important files on an external USB drive or cloud destination. Sign in to the associated account, review the folders and settings selected, and wait for the backup to finish.
17. Use a pre-reset checklist
- List the files you cannot replace, including documents, photos, project folders, and saved work.
- Run Windows Backup and verify that the intended folders, settings, apps, and Wi-Fi information are selected.
- Make a second copy of the important files to an external USB backup drive or cloud storage.
- Open a few files from the second copy to confirm that the backup is readable.
- Keep the external drive connected only long enough to complete and check the copy, then disconnect it before starting the reset.
- Begin the reset or reinstall only after you have confirmed that the copies exist and you understand which recovery option you are selecting.
This sequence separates the act of making a backup from the risky recovery operation. If a reset fails, you still have a protected copy from which to rebuild your work.
A practical order for your next maintenance session
If you want one efficient routine rather than twenty separate projects, use this order:
- Install Windows and optional driver updates.
- Run a Windows Security quick scan.
- Check Task Manager for heavy processes and unnecessary startup items.
- Run Storage Sense, clear temporary files, and use Disk Cleanup.
- Uninstall unused applications.
- Adjust background permissions, visual effects, and power mode according to your priorities.
- Optimize the selected drive, close unused apps and tabs, and restart.
- Configure Windows Backup and create a second copy on an external USB drive or cloud storage.
- Use the shortcuts above to reduce everyday navigation time.
Performance changes are not guaranteed to produce a measurable percentage improvement; the result depends on what was slowing the PC in the first place. These steps target common causes without promising a benchmark result, while the backup steps reduce the consequences of a hardware failure or recovery mistake.
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