How to Speed up Your Laptop

This How.com.vn teaches you how to improve your laptop's operation speed, whether it's running Windows, macOS, or Chrome OS (Chromebooks). Laptops most often slow down due to insufficient storage, memory-draining display effects, excessive cached files, and poor care.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

On Windows

1
Practice good computer habits. You may be surprised at how adjusting a few of your computer-use habits can quickly turn a sluggish laptop into a functionally superior one:
- Empty the Recycle Bin often.
- Close programs when you're done using them.
- Turn off your computer at least once every few days.
- Install updates when they become available.
- Don't install programs that are too hefty for your computer to handle.
- Never install more than one antivirus program at a time (on Windows, you don't need to install an antivirus program—Windows Defender comes pre-installed).
- Keep your computer's air vents clean and unobstructed.
2
Change your battery settings. Most Windows computers are balanced between battery conservation and performance, but you can set your computer to emphasize performance. Keep in mind that doing this will significantly reduce your laptop's battery life:
- Click the Start icon
- Click the Settings icon
- Click System
- Click the Battery tab on the left side of the page.
- Uncheck the "Turn battery saver on automatically" box.
- Avoid turning on Battery Saver in the future.
3
Remove unnecessary programs. Any unnecessary program that you have installed just takes up space and memory. You can uninstall excess programs by doing the following:
- Click the Start icon
- Type in control panel
- Click Control Panel at the top of the Start menu.
- Click the Uninstall a program link (or click Programs and Features if you see a list of icons on this page).
- Find a program that you want to remove, then click it to select it.
- Click Uninstall or Uninstall/Change
- Follow any on-screen prompts until the program is uninstalled.
  - If prompted to restart your computer, select the Later option.
- Repeat this process for any other unneeded programs.
4
Prevent programs from starting when you turn on your computer. When turning back on a Windows computer, you'll notice that several programs usually attempt to start up all at once. This can slow down significantly your computer's load time. To prevent programs from starting up automatically when you turn on your computer, do the following:
- Click the Start icon
- Type in task manager
- Click Task Manager at the top of the Start window.
- Click the Startup tab.
- Click a program's name.
- Click Disable in the lower-right corner of the window.
- Repeat for every other program in this window.
5
Turn off special display effects. Windows 10 has several display enhancements (such as shadows and dynamic lighting effects) that can cause significant slow-down on older or lower-end PCs. Fortunately, you can disable these effects for smoother operation:
- Click the Start icon
  .
- Type in view advanced system settings
- Click View advanced system settings at the top of the Start menu.
- Click the Advanced tab.
- Click Settings... below the "Performance" heading.
- Click the Visual Effects tab.
- Check the "Custom:" box.
- Uncheck every box on this page.
- Click Apply, then click OK
6
Run the Disk Cleanup program. Disk Cleanup is a program that finds temporary files, folders, and other items which can safely be deleted and then deletes them for you. This is a handy way to delete a few gigabytes' worth of useless data from your computer:
- Click Start
- Type in disk cleanup
- Click Disk Cleanup at the top of the Start menu.
- Click Clean up system files in the lower-left side of the window.
- Wait for Disk Cleanup to find files to remove.
- Check every box in the main window, scrolling down as needed.
- Click OK
- Click Delete Files when prompted.
7
Scan for viruses. Viruses can slow down your computer and prevent you from using certain programs. By scanning with the built-in Windows Defender antivirus program, you can identify and remove viruses on your computer.
- Do not download and/or use a different antivirus program on your computer.
8
Restart your computer. Click Start
, click Power
, and click Restart in the resulting menu. Once your computer finishes restarting, your changes should be completely implemented.
- It's normal for your computer to behave sluggishly for the first few minutes after you start it up.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

On Mac

1
Practice good computer habits. You may be surprised at how adjusting a few of your computer-use habits can quickly turn a sluggish laptop into a functionally superior one:
- Empty the Trash Can often.
- Close programs when you're done using them.
- Turn off your computer at least once every few days.
- Install updates when they become available.
- Don't install programs that are too hefty for your computer to handle.
- Never install more than one antivirus program at a time (on a Mac, you should stick to Malwarebytes).
- Keep your computer's air vents clean and unobstructed.
2
Delete or move desktop files. Macs are somewhat notorious for being sensitive to over-cluttered desktops, but you can easily rectify this problem by deleting or moving the files from your desktop.
- Delete - Select files to delete, click the Edit menu item, and click the Delete option in the resulting drop-down menu.
- Move - Select files to move, press ⌘ Command+X, open the folder into which you want to move the files, and press ⌘ Command+V.
3
Remove unnecessary programs. As with any computer, unused programs on your Mac take up a large amount of space regardless of whether or not you actively use them. You can remove unnecessary programs from your Mac by doing the following:
- Click the desktop or open a Finder window.
- Click Go in the menu bar.
- Click Applications
- Find an application that you don't need.
- Drag the application to the Trash Can in your Mac's dock.
- Follow any on-screen prompts in order to delete the program.
- Repeat this process for any other unused programs.
4
Turn off startup programs. Startup programs are applications which attempt to start when you boot up your Mac. This can cause significant slow-down and even crashes, so disabling startup programs is vital if you want a smoother startup experience:
- Open the Apple menu
- Click System Preferences...
- Click Users & Groups
- Click the Login Items tab.
- Select a program.
- Click - below the programs window.
- Repeat this process for all other programs in this window.
5
Disable the Dashboard feature. The Dashboard is a screen that displays various widgets and open windows. While potentially useful, the Dashboard consumes a large amount of memory; luckily, it can easily be disabled:
- Open the Apple menu
  - You can also click ⋮⋮⋮⋮ and skip the next step if System Preferences is already open.
- Click System Preferences...
- Click Mission Control
- Click the "Dashboard" drop-down box.
- Click Off in the resulting drop-down menu.
6
Optimize your Mac's hard drive storage. Mac OS Sierra and above include a feature that allows you to remove unnecessary files and data from your Mac, including watched TV show episodes (these can be re-downloaded later):^{[1]XResearch source}
- Open the Apple menu
  .
- Click About This Mac
- Click the Storage tab.
- Click Manage... in the upper-right side of the window.
- Click Optimize... to the right of the "Optimize Storage" heading.
7
Run a Disk Utility First Aid scan on your computer. This will check your Mac's hard drive for minor errors (and repair them if necessary), which can improve your Mac's file recovery speed and overall performance:
- Click Go in the menu bar.
  - You may first have to click the desktop or open a Finder window before Go will appear.
- Click Utilities
- Double-click the "Disk Utility" icon.
- Select your Mac's hard drive in the upper-left side of the window.
- Click the First Aid tab.
- Click Run when prompted, then click Continue if prompted.
8
Scan for viruses. Viruses can slow down your computer and prevent you from using certain programs. By downloading and scanning with Malwarebytes Antivirus, you can identify and remove viruses on your Mac.
- Never have more than one antivirus program installed at one time.
9
Restart your Mac. Click the Apple menu icon
, click Restart... in the resulting drop-down menu, and click Restart Now when prompted. Once your Mac finishes restarting, it should be running much faster than before.
- It's normal for your computer to be a little bit sluggish for the first few minutes after restarting.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

On Chromebook

1
Practice good computer habits. You may be surprised at how adjusting a few of your computer-use habits can quickly turn a sluggish laptop into a functionally superior one:
- Close programs when you're done using them.
- Turn off your computer at least once every few days.
- Install updates when they become available.
- Don't install programs that are too hefty for your computer to handle.
- Never install more than one antivirus program at a time.
- Keep your computer's air vents clean and unobstructed.
Chrome can quickly detract from your system's performance if you have too many tabs open, so click the X in the corner of each open tab that you're no longer using to cut down on memory usage.^{[2]XResearch source}
3
Make sure that your Chromebook is up-to-date. To do so:^{[3]XResearch source}
- Click your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
- Click the Settings icon
- Click ☰ in the pop-up menu.
- Click About ChromeOS in the menu.
- Click Check for Updates
4
Delete unwanted extensions. Since Chromebooks are relatively lightweight in terms of memory use, having multiple unused extensions in Google Chrome can eventually slow down your computer. To remove these extensions:
- Open Chrome
- Type chrome:extensions into the address bar and press ↵ Enter
- Click the trash can icon next to an extension.
- Click Remove when prompted.
- Repeat this process for each extension that you don't need.
5
Delete apps that you don't need. As with any computer, unused programs still take up valuable space. You can remove Chromebook apps by doing the following:^{[4]XResearch source}
- Open the Apps list.
- Use two fingers to click an app.
- Click Remove from Chrome
- Repeat with any other apps that you want to delete.
6
Consider a factory reset. Resetting your Chromebook will delete all of the data stored on your Chromebook, but the Chromebook will be running like new by the end of the reset.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Back up any data that you want to save.
- Open Chrome
- Click ⋮
- Click Settings
- Scroll to the bottom and click Advanced
- Scroll down and click Powerwash, then follow the prompts to reset the Chromebook.
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Expert Q&A

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Question
Does hardware affect speed?
Spike Baron
Network Engineer & Desktop Support
Spike Baron is the Owner of Spike's Computer Repair based in Los Angeles, California. With over 25 years of working experience in the tech industry, Spike specializes in PC and Mac computer repair, used computer sales, virus removal, data recovery, and hardware and software upgrades. He has his CompTIA A+ certification for computer service technicians and is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert.
Spike Baron
Network Engineer & Desktop Support
Expert Answer
Yes! You can speed up your laptop by upgrading the hardware. The best way to speed up a laptop is to add more RAM. You should also replace your mechanical hard drive with a solid state drive if one is not already installed. The rest of your speed capacity is up to your processor.
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Question
What can I do to stop my computer from losing connection to games and the Internet?
Community Answer
If you're using WiFi, switch to a network cable instead. If this isn't possible, be sure that your router is elevated and there's as little as possible blocking the signal. If problems persist, it could be that your router is going bad, or there's a problem with your Internet service.
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What should I do if I've deleted all temporary files on my computer, and it still works too slowly?
Community Answer
Contact a local technician for support. Best Buy's geek squad may be able to help you.
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Tips

You can reinstall your computer's operating system to remove all but the most basic programs, files, and settings. This is considered a nuclear option if you don't have a backup of your important files, but it can drastically improve your computer's performance.
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If performance is important and cost isn't a factor, consider installing a solid state hard drive (SSD). These hard drives have no moving parts and you will notice drastic improvements to boot and loading times. They are significantly more expensive than standard hard drives, but continue to come down in price.
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If your laptop supports it, installing more RAM will likely give you a performance boost. Laptops are generally more limited than desktops when upgrading your RAM, and you may already be using the most your laptop can take.
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Warnings

Avoid any advertised program that claims to speed up your computer. Few of these programs have any effect on your computer's performance, and many act as vehicles for malware.
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