How Does a Laptop or Computer Work?
Before exploring tips to how to increase laptop speed, it’s essential to understand how a computer or laptop operates. Both laptops and desktops depend greatly on their hardware and software to run smoothly and efficiently.
In simple terms:
- Hardware refers to the tangible, physical components of your device—like the processor, RAM, hard drive, and motherboard.
- Software is the set of programs and operating systems that interact with the hardware, telling it what to do and how to do it.
By understanding how these two aspects work together, we can better grasp what affects performance and how to optimize it.
Why Gets Slow Down?
So, when a software update is heavy or when animations are resource-intensive, the system or PC can slow down. This happens because these processes consume significant CPU, memory, and sometimes disk resources, which can reduce the performance available for other tasks. If the hardware is older or has limited resources, the slowdown can be more noticeable.
How to Increase Laptop Speed?
To view resource usage in Task Manager on a Windows system:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on the “Processes” tab.
- Look at the columns titled:
- CPU: Shows the percentage of CPU usage per process.
- Memory: Displays the amount of RAM each process is using.
- Disk: Indicates disk usage by each process.
- Network: Shows network bandwidth usage per process.
- For more detailed resource monitoring, switch to the “Performance” tab to see overall system resource usage including CPU, Memory, Disk, Network, and GPU.
Each section helps you identify which applications or processes are consuming system resources.
Identify the app consuming the most resources, If the app is important and you do not want to remove it, simply monitor its performance or consider closing other non-essential apps to free up resources. If you want to repeat the process to check again after some time, just follow the same steps.
Minor Hardware Upgrade to Increase Laptop Speed
Nowadays, software upgrades are essential for improving performance and security. To increase laptop speed in a simple and cost-effective way, consider the following hardware upgrades:
- Upgrade to an SSD (Solid State Drive): Replacing a traditional hard drive (HDD) with an SSD can dramatically boost your laptop’s performance. SSDs are up to 10 times faster than HDDs, which means faster boot times, quicker file access, and improved overall system responsiveness. This simple upgrade often provides the most noticeable speed improvement for both laptops and desktop computers
- Increase RAM (Memory): Adding more RAM allows your laptop to handle more tasks simultaneously and improves multitasking performance.
- Clean and Maintain Cooling System: Overheating can slow down your laptop. Cleaning dust from fans and vents helps maintain optimal performance.
- Replace the Battery: An aging battery can cause performance issues. Installing a new battery ensures stable power delivery.
- Optimize Storage: Removing unnecessary files and programs can free up space and improve speed.
These upgrades are generally affordable and can extend your laptop’s lifespan while enhancing its performance.
Bonus tips to Increase Laptop Speed
1. Remove Unwanted Files
Use Disk Cleanup:
- Press Windows + S, type Disk Cleanup, and open it.
- Select your C: drive and check options like Temporary files, Recycle Bin, and Thumbnails.
- Click Clean up system files to remove older Windows installations and other system files.
Manually Delete Temp Files:
- Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and hit Enter.
- Select all files and delete them. Skip any files that are currently in use.
2. Maintain Free Space Above 20 GB
- Check Disk Space Regularly:
Open File Explorer, right-click C: drive, select Properties, and ensure free space stays above 20 GB. - Move Large Files:
Transfer videos, photos, or other heavy files to another drive or external storage.
3. Automate Temp File Cleanup
Use Storage Sense:
- Go to Settings > System > Storage.
- Turn on Storage Sense to automatically clean temporary files.
- Configure how often it runs and what it deletes.
4.Keep Your Laptop Cool
- Ensure proper ventilation—clean fans and keep air vents clear.
- Adjust power settings: Go to Control Panel > Power Options and select a Balanced or Power Saver plan to reduce heat output.
5.Reduce Unnecessary Background Tasks
- Close extra Chrome tabs and browser extensions.
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to identify and end high-resource processes.
- Disable unnecessary startup programs under the Startup tab in Task Manager.
6. Remove Unneeded Applications
- Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features.
- Uninstall apps you no longer use or need.
7. Regular Virus Scanning
- Use Windows Defender or another trusted antivirus.
- Schedule regular scans:
Go to Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Scan Options and choose a quick or full scan schedule.
Conclusion
A fast and responsive laptop doesn’t happen by chance—it comes from understanding how your system works and taking simple steps to optimize it. From upgrading to an SSD for lightning-fast performance, to keeping your C: drive clean and maintaining free space above 20 GB, every action counts. Regular maintenance, proper cooling, reducing unnecessary apps and background tasks, and keeping your system secure with antivirus scans all contribute to a smoother, more efficient computing experience.
By following these tips consistently, you can extend the life of your laptop, enjoy faster boot times, improved responsiveness, and a hassle-free workflow—turning even older machines into reliable, high-performing tools.
Note: These steps apply to both laptops and desktop computers. If you do not have prior experience or knowledge, please do not attempt this.