How to speed up Windows 11 (and 10): an honest checklist
Windows 10 & 11 · About a 5 minute read · Updated 2026-07-02
Most slow PCs are not broken and do not need a reinstall. They are weighed down by startup clutter, a full disk and old drivers. Work through this checklist and you will feel the difference, no snake oil required.
Quick answer
Trim startup apps, uninstall what you do not use, free up disk space and update your drivers. Then set Best performance, scan for malware and check drive health. Still on a hard drive? Move Windows to an SSD, that is the biggest win of all.
1. Cut what starts with Windows
Too many startup programs are the most common cause of a slow boot and a sluggish desktop. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to Startup apps, and disable everything you do not need running the moment you log in (updaters, chat apps, launchers). You can always start them manually when you need them.
2. Uninstall apps you never use
Bloatware and forgotten apps take space and often run background tasks. Go to Settings, Apps, Installed apps, sort by size or install date, and remove anything you do not recognise or use. Be conservative with anything from your PC maker labelled as a driver or utility.
3. Free up disk space
A nearly full drive slows everything down. Aim to keep at least 10 to 15 percent free. Turn on Storage Sense (Settings, System, Storage) to clear temporary files automatically, and empty the Recycle Bin. uOptimise Storage finds duplicates and large files and shows exactly what will be freed before you confirm.
4. Turn down visual effects
Animations and transparency cost a little performance, which matters on older machines. Search for View advanced system settings, Performance, Settings, and choose Adjust for best performance, or untick the heaviest effects. Windows will feel snappier immediately.
5. Update Windows and your drivers
Outdated drivers, especially graphics drivers, cause stutter and slow rendering. Install pending updates (Settings, Windows Update), then get the latest GPU driver directly from Intel, AMD or NVIDIA. Keep the PC maker as your source for chipset and storage drivers.
6. Set the right power mode
On a desktop or a plugged-in laptop, set the power mode to Best performance (Settings, System, Power). Balanced is fine on battery, but a power-saving profile will hold performance back when you do not need it to.
7. Scan for malware
Unexplained slowness is sometimes malware quietly using your CPU or disk. Run a full scan with Windows Security (Virus and threat protection, Scan options, Full scan) before assuming the hardware is at fault.
8. Check drive health and free memory
A failing drive or maxed-out memory feels like a slow PC. Check SMART health (uOptimise Monitor shows it) and watch memory use in Task Manager while you work. If you are constantly at high memory, closing tabs and heavy apps, or adding RAM, will help more than any tweak.
9. The upgrade that actually matters: an SSD
If your PC still boots from a mechanical hard drive, this is the single biggest change you can make. Moving Windows to an SSD typically cuts boot and load times dramatically, more than every software tweak put together. If you already have an SSD, the steps above are where your gains are.
Let uOptimise handle the software side
The startup tuning, service tuning, safe cleanup and system-file repair on this list are exactly what uOptimise does in one pass, with a System Restore point taken first so every change is reversible. $4.99, paid once, with a free 48-hour trial, or download it here.
Frequently asked
Will speeding up Windows delete my files?
No. Everything here disables startup items, removes apps you choose, clears caches and temporary files, and updates settings. Your documents, photos and installed games are untouched.
Do I need to reinstall Windows to make it fast again?
Almost never. A reinstall is a last resort. In practice, trimming startup apps, freeing disk space and updating drivers recovers most of the speed people think they have lost. Try this checklist first.
What is the single biggest speedup?
If your PC still uses a mechanical hard drive, moving Windows to an SSD is by far the biggest real-world improvement, often larger than every software tweak combined. Everything else on this list helps, but that upgrade is transformative.
Does uOptimise do all of this?
It automates the software side: startup and service tuning, safe cleanup, and system-file repair, each with a System Restore point taken first. Hardware choices like adding an SSD are still up to you.
More in the guides library, including fixing 100% disk usage.