You rely on your team to be efficient and productive. But slow and sluggish computers can hinder their work. When their tech lags, their productivity also plummets, deadlines become a struggle, and frustration mounts. These sluggish devices can have a ripple effect, impacting not just individual efficiency but also your company’s overall performance.

Before you resign to the hefty expense of replacing your PCs, consider these cost-effective ways to breathe new life into your existing Windows 10 and 11 machines.

1. The Power of the Restart

It may seem like a techie cliché, but a simple reboot can often work wonders. Restarting clears temporary files, closes background applications, and frees up precious memory. This often resolves common performance issues, especially if your computer has been running for a while.

2. Tame the Startup Beast

Many programs add themselves to the startup sequence, slowing down your boot time. To reclaim precious seconds, consider disabling unnecessary startup apps:

• Open Settings > Apps > Startup.
• Sort apps by their “Startup impact”.
• Disable unnecessary apps by toggling their switches off.
• Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

This prevents these programs from launching automatically at startup, freeing up valuable system resources for a faster boot and snappier performance throughout the day.

3. Hibernating Apps: A Double-Edged Sword

Windows 11’s ability to resume specific applications upon reboot can be convenient, but it can also bog down your system if you rarely use them. To disable this feature:

• Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
• Turn off the toggle switch for “Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in.”

Disabling this feature can improve startup times and overall performance, especially if you have numerous programs running in the background.

4. Cleanse Your Software Landscape

Unused or outdated programs can clutter your system, consuming storage space and slowing things down. To declutter:

• Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
• Choose the app you want to uninstall
• Click the Uninstall option
• Follow the on-screen prompts.

By removing unnecessary software, you free up disk space and system resources, leading to improved performance.

Always be cautious about the software you install. Poorly designed or outdated applications can have a detrimental impact on your computer’s performance. Stick to reputable sources and trusted developers (preferably apps available in the Microsoft Store) known for prioritizing both security and performance.

Before installing any software, do some research online, reading user reviews and checking for potential compatibility issues. Opt for trustworthy sources and well-known companies.

Before making the costly decision to upgrade your devices, consider these simple solutions to optimize your existing windows computers. However, if you’d rather not tackle these steps yourself, our team of experts is here to help! We can comprehensively diagnose your computer and network, identifying hidden performance bottlenecks and implementing optimal solutions. Contact us today for a free consultation!