Numerous internal improvements in Windows 11 enhance a computer's performance. In general, Windows 11 will operate on the same PC more quickly than Windows 10. Though Windows 11 can run quicker, it doesn't have to. Furthermore have in mind that PCs have a tendency to slow down with time, so you want to make sure yours doesn't experience that.
Increasing the speed of your Windows computer is easy. Simply adhere to these suggestions.
Top ways to speed up Windows 11
- Disable programs that run on startup
- Use efficiency mode
- Use automatic Windows maintenance
- Kill adware and bloatware
- Turn off search indexing
- Clean out your hard disk
- Disable shadows, animations, and visual effects
- Disable transparency
- Change your power settings
- Turn off Windows tips and tricks
- Disable Game Mode
- Update device drivers
- Restart Windows
Note: Windows 11 version 22H2 is covered in this story. Certain things can be a little different if you have an earlier version of Windows 11. See our Windows 10 speed advice if you're using Windows 10.
1. Disable programs that run on startup
If there are apps that you seldom or never use running in the background, your Windows 11 PC may be slow. If you stop them from running, your PC will operate more quickly.
To begin, use one of the following methods to open the Task Manager: You may either put task manager into the Windows 11 search box and hit Enter, or you can right-click the lower-right corner of your screen and choose Task Manager by pressing Ctrl-Shift-Esc. Task Manager may be used for many things, but for the sake of this discussion, we will just be concentrating on terminating pointless starting applications.
On the left-hand side of the screen, click the Startup applications icon. From the top, it is the fourth icon. A list of the apps and services that run when you boot up Windows is displayed. The list comprises the name of each application, together with information about its publisher, startup effect (i.e., how much it slows down Windows 11 when the system boots up), and if it is enabled to run at startup. However, keep in mind that the screen doesn't indicate how much each software will affect your PC's speed after it launches and runs normally.
 |
| The Task Manager may be used to find out which apps run automatically at startup and to turn off those that you don't require. (Click the image to make it larger.) |
Right-click the application or service you want to avoid starting during startup, and choose Disable. You may still use the software after launch; this doesn't completely deactivate it. It just stops it from launching at startup. Additionally, you may go back to this section of the Task Manager, right-click the application, and choose Enable if you change your mind later and want it to run automatically.
You may recognize a number of the apps and services that launch automatically, such as Spotify or Microsoft OneDrive. But many of them you might not be familiar with. Please raise your hand if you can tell what "bzbui.exe" is right away. It's unfair to Google it first.)
Unfamiliar programs can have their information found by the Task Manager. To view further details about an item, such as its location on your hard drive, if it has a digital signature, and other details like the file size, version number, and last modification date, right-click on it and choose Properties.
Moreover, you may choose Open file location with a right-click on the item. This may provide you with further information on the purpose of the software. It launches File Explorer and navigates to the folder containing the file.
Lastly, and maybe most usefully, once you right-click, you can choose Search online. After that, Bing will open with connections to websites that provide details about the application or service. Task Manager made it easy for me to figure out that bzbui.exe is the Backblaze backup program, which I want to launch automatically when my computer boots up.
If you have concerns about any of the mentioned apps, you may search for the file name on the "Should I Block It?" website, which is managed by Reason Software. Generally, you'll discover excellent information regarding the service or program.
Your computer may operate quicker the next time it restarts since the system won't start those pointless apps automatically now that you've chosen every one of them to deactivate at startup.
2. Use Efficiency Mode
There's more that Task Manager can do to optimize Windows 11 performance. Windows 11 22H2's Efficiency Mode can increase PC performance and prolong laptop battery life. Among other efficiency tips, it reduces the process priority of background apps.
The phrase is a little misleading because Efficiency Mode cannot be used to boot up your complete computer. Rather, you add individual programs and processes to Task Manager. One thing to keep in mind is that it's limited to certain programs and processes.
Start Task Manager first by employing one of the techniques described in the preceding article. To access the Processes screen, if you're already in Task Manager, click the Processes icon (three squares in a grid) on the left side of the screen. A list of the processes and programs that are now active shows.
To put an application or process into efficiency mode, select it, click the Efficiency mode symbol in the upper right corner of the screen, and then confirm that you wish to enable Efficiency Mode for that particular program. You won't be able to utilize an app or process if the Efficiency mode icon is grayed out when you click on it. Furthermore, certain programs—like Microsoft Edge—always operate in Efficiency Mode by default and cannot be switched out of.
 |
| Activating an application's Efficiency Mode. (Click the image to make it larger.) |
3. Use automatic Windows maintenance
Windows 11 continuously maintains your computer in the background, checking for updates and running system diagnostics to make sure everything is working properly. When issues are detected, it instantly resolves them, allowing your PC to operate at its best. Every day at 2:00 a.m., if your gadget is plugged in and asleep, the automated maintenance will begin.
However, if you shut down your PC at night (instead of putting it in sleep mode) or haven't had your laptop plugged in for a long, that function could have been inadvertently turned off or it might not have been used recently. Make sure it is switched on and operating each day. If you'd like, you may also execute it manually.
To launch the Control Panel program, click the taskbar's search icon, type control into the search field, then choose Control Panel from the list of results. Choose System and Security > Security and Maintenance from the app. If you want the maintenance to begin immediately, click Start maintenance under Automatic Maintenance in the Maintenance section. Click Change maintenance settings, choose the time you want maintenance to run, and check the box next to Allow scheduled maintenance to wake up my computer at the appointed time to ensure that it runs every day. Click OK after that.
 |
| This explains how to schedule Windows 11's daily maintenance procedures. (Click the image to make it larger.) |
4. Kill adware and bloatware
It is possible that bloatware or adware that consumes CPU and system resources is what is slowing down your computer instead of Windows 11. The fact that adware and bloatware can have been installed by your computer's maker makes them more dangerous. Usually, they launch automatically and you are unaware of it. If you get rid of it, you'll be shocked at how much better your PC performs.
To begin, check your machine for malware and adware. You can utilize a security package that you already have installed, such Norton Security or McAfee LiveSafe. Windows Defender, the integrated anti-malware program in Windows 11, performs admirably as well. In the search bar, just type "Windows Defender," hit Enter, and select "Scan Now." Windows Defender is designed to search for and eliminate malware.
However, you ought to seek a second viewpoint, therefore take into account using a free program like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. The subscription version provides always-on security to prevent infestations in the first place, while the free version searches for malware and adware and eliminates what it finds.
 |
| Malware is found and eliminated by Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. (Click the image to make it larger.) |
After completing all of that, look for and remove any bloatware. Bulk Crap Uninstaller is an excellent free program for removing bloatware. You may also visit the Should I Remove It? website, which provides advice on what programs to keep and what to remove. The website has a section with instructions on how to uninstall bloatware from PCs made by particular manufacturers. Going there is highly recommended, as it has a list of all the bloatware that various manufacturers install on their computers.
Lastly, be sure you have the choice to remove trial software and other program that is not necessary for operating your computer when you purchase a new computer online. This will prevent bloatware from ever infecting your machine.
5. Turn off search indexing
Windows 11 search indexes your hard drive in the background so you can search your computer faster than you would if indexing weren't taking place. Fast searches benefit from this, while slower PCs may not benefit as much from it since indexing might reduce system performance. You can disable indexing to increase the performance of a slower system. Turning off indexing will speed up your computer even if it has an SSD as indexing writes to the disk constantly, which over time can cause SSDs to slow down.
Click the taskbar search icon, type services.msc into the Windows 11 search box, then hit Enter to turn it off. The Services application opens. From the list of services, scroll down to Windows Search or Indexing Service. Double-click it, then select Stop from the screen that displays. Next, restart your computer. You might not notice the change, but your searches could be a little slower. Still, you ought to experience an overall speed increase.
 |
| Here’s how to turn off Windows 11 indexing. (Click image to enlarge it.) |
As an alternative, you can disable indexing for files in certain areas exclusively. This allows you to disable indexing for the remainder of your hard drive while still being able to index frequently searched for files and directories. As a result, your PC's speed would improve but you could still obtain quick searches for things you use frequently.
To get started, click the Indexing Options result that shows up after typing index into the Windows 11 search box. The Control Panel's Indexing Options page opens. When you click the Modify button, a list of locations—including Microsoft Outlook and your own files—that are being indexed will appear. Any place that has a box next to it unchecked will no longer be indexed.
6. Clean out your hard disk
Your computer may run more slowly if its hard drive is bloated and full of unnecessary stuff. It may be cleaned in a few minutes and speed up immediately. Storage Sense, an integrated utility in Windows 11, will take care of the task for you.
Toggle Storage Sense on and off by clicking the Start button, choosing Settings > System > Storage, and then scrolling down to the area. Windows will now continuously check your computer and remove unnecessary files, including temporary files, files in the Downloads folder that haven't been updated in a month, and outdated Recycle Bin items.
If you utilize iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos, you may use Storage Sense to clear out space from those services and modify how it operates. You may customize the Storage Sense toggle by clicking the arrow to the right of it. This is where you schedule Storage Sense to operate.
You can also choose how long to wait for Storage Sense to automatically delete items from the Recycle Bin and delete files from your Downloads folder based on how long they've been there. Lastly, if you haven't utilized your local iCloud Drive or iCloud Photos material on your PC for a predetermined period of time, you may have Storage Sense remove it from your computer.
 |
| Here’s how to customize the way Storage Sense works. (Click image to enlarge it.) |
7. Disable shadows, animations, and visual effects
The shadows, animations, and visual effects in Windows 11 are likely to be of great interest to those who enjoy eye candy. Generally speaking, they have little effect on speed on modern, fast PCs. However, they can negatively impact older, slower devices' performance.
Turn these off if your computer is slower. To accomplish this, put sysdm.cpl into the Windows 11 search box, hit Enter, and then choose the sysdm.cpl icon. This opens the System Properties dialog box in the Control Panel. In the Performance section, click Settings after selecting the Advanced tab. The Performance Options dialog box appears as a result. (Ensure that the dialog box's Visual Effects tab is selected.) A wide range of animations and special effects are displayed.
 |
| You may disable any visual effects that might be slowing down Windows 11 by using the Performance Options dialog box. (Click the image to make it larger.) |
You can toggle each setting on and off if you're a tinkerer. Since they have the most impact on system performance, you should definitely switch off these animations and special effects:
- Animate controls and elements inside windows
- Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing
- Animations in the taskbar
- Fade or slide menus into view
- Fade or slide ToolTips into view
- Fade out menu items after clicking
- Show shadows under windows
But it's much simpler to just click OK after choosing the Adjust for optimal performance option at the top of the page. After that, Windows 11 will disable any effects that are causing your system to lag.
8. Disable transparency
Go beyond disabling animations, visual effects, and shadows to get even more speed. Disable the transparency effects on the Windows 11 taskbar and other areas as well. To achieve transparency effects, Windows does surprisingly heavy lifting, and disabling them might affect system performance.
Click the Start button, choose Settings > Personalization > Colors, and then drag the Transparency effects slider to the Off position to do the task.
 |
| The performance of Windows 11 may be accelerated by disabling the transparency effects. (Click the image to make it larger.) |
9. Change your power settings
You can manage the energy consumption and performance of your Windows 11 PC by adjusting its power settings. Therefore, be aware that your computer will perform slower if you choose to use Windows 11's "Power saver" plan. To conserve energy, that approach lowers the performance of your PC. (Usually, even desktop PCs offer a "Power saver" plan.) You will experience an immediate improvement in performance if you switch from the "Power saver" power plan to the "High performance" or "Balanced" one.
To begin, type control into the search bar and select the Control Panel icon to open the Control Panel program. Next, choose Hardware and Sound > Power Configuration. Usually, there are two choices available: "Power saver" and "Balanced (recommended)." You may also see alternative plans here, including ones branded by the manufacturer, depending on your make and model. To view the "High performance" setting, select "Show additional plans" by clicking the down arrow.
 |
| Enhance the performance of your PC by adjusting the power settings in the Control Panel. (Click the image to make it larger.) |
After selecting your preferred setting, close the Control Panel. "High performance" means that you get the greatest power but also the most oomph. "Balanced" strikes a good balance between reduced power consumption and enhanced functionality, while "Power saver" makes every effort to maximize battery life. There's no reason for desktop users to select "Power saver," and while unplugged, laptop users should also think about selecting "Balanced."
10. Turn off Windows tips and tricks
Windows 11 continuously monitors your computer usage and provides you with suggestions for possible uses of the operating system. These "tips" are never really useful to me. Furthermore, the privacy implications of Windows continuously watching over my shoulder bother me.
In addition, this monitoring may cause your computer to operate more slowly. Tell Windows to stop being so sly and stop providing you recommendations in order to expedite the process. Click the Start button, then choose Settings > System > Notifications to do the task. Select Additional options by swiping down and using the down arrow. Uncheck the box labeled "Get tips and suggestions when using Windows" from the list of choices that appears.
 |
| Disabling Windows' recommendations ought to improve system performance and restore some of your privacy. (Click the image to make it larger.) |
11. Disable Game Mode
The Game Mode in Windows 11 optimizes your computer for gaming. It will prioritize system resources for gaming above other programs and background activities when it detects that you are playing a game. While this is wonderful for dedicated gamers, it might slow down your system while you're not playing games because it reserves certain system resources in case you start playing. Occasionally, it also leads to problems with stability. Thus, disabling Game Mode could help your PC speed up. (If you wish to play a game again, you can always switch it back on.)
Even if you've never played a game on your PC, Game Mode is most likely activated by default. Navigate to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode, then choose Off on the Game Mode slider to turn it off.
 |
| Even if you've never played a game on your PC, Game Mode is most likely activated by default. Navigate to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode, then choose Off on the Game Mode slider to turn it off. |
12. Update device drivers
If your Windows 11 PC's drivers are outdated and clogged, it might become a sluggish machine. Older drivers can significantly impair performance. When driver-related slowdowns occur, graphics drivers are frequently the main offender. To see whether yours is out of date and to upgrade to the most recent version:
- To launch the search, left-click the Start button next to the search field and choose Run.
- In the Run box that displays, type msc, then hit Enter or OK.
- To expand the Display Adapters item, scroll to it and click the side-facing arrow.
- Choose Update from the context menu that displays when you right-click the driver.
- When prompted, choose whether you want Windows to look for an updated driver for you or to find and install one on your own. Leaving Windows to perform the task is your best option. To install the driver, adhere to the instructions displayed on the screen.
This method allows you to update all of your drivers using the Device Manager. Because it takes a lot of time, you might want to ask Windows to complete the task for you. Here's how to do it:
- Pressing the Windows key + I is a useful shortcut for opening the Settings program. From the left pane, choose Windows Update.
- Click on Additional Updates under Advanced Options. A list of every update that Windows has located but not yet installed will appear.
- Click Download & Install after selecting any driver you wish to install.
 |
| Tell Windows Update to update your drivers. |
13. Restart Windows
One of IT's not-so-secret tools for debugging and optimizing a PC is to shut it down and restart it. By doing that, any unused RAM that would otherwise be impossible to empty gets removed. Additionally, it terminates any programs that you may have started that are no longer required but are causing your system to lag.
This will make your Windows 11 PC perform significantly faster, which may surprise you if it has been slow for no obvious cause for some time. I can attest to that; as a precaution, I frequently restart my Windows 11 PCs even when they are not slow.
There you have it, when you are facing problem of speed with your windows 11, feel free to do the following, thanks for reading this article 🙏.