How to Speed Up Windows 11: 8 Easy Ways to Make Your PC Faster (2026)

Is your Windows 11 PC running slower than it used to? Apps take longer to open, File Explorer feels sluggish, games stutter, or your computer takes several minutes to boot. Over time, Windows 11 can slow down because of unnecessary startup apps, background processes, low storage space, outdated drivers, incorrect system settings, or corrupted system files. Instead of trying random tweaks or installing PC optimizer software, we focus on fixes that have the biggest impact on performance. This guide covers the most effective ways to speed up Windows 11, improve system responsiveness, reduce boot time, and make your PC feel fast again.

Turn Off Apps That Start with Windows

Many apps are configured to start automatically every time Windows boots. While this can be convenient for programs you use regularly, too many startup apps increase boot time, consume memory, and continue running in the background even when you don’t need them.

Disabling unnecessary startup apps is one of the quickest ways to improve Windows 11 performance, especially if your PC takes a long time to start or feels sluggish immediately after signing in.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select Apps from the left pane, then click Startup.
3. Review the list of startup apps.
4. Turn off apps you don’t need to launch automatically, especially those marked High impact.

Alternative: You can also manage startup apps from Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) by opening the Startup apps tab, selecting an app, and clicking Disable.

Important: Leave security software, graphics drivers (Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD), audio drivers, touchpad software, and other hardware-related utilities enabled, as they are required for Windows and your devices to function properly.

Uninstall Apps You No Longer Use

Unused applications take up valuable storage space and may install background services, scheduled tasks, or update processes that continue running even when you rarely use the app. Remove the software, apps, and games you no longer use; it not only frees up system resources but also reduces unnecessary background activity.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Installed apps.
3. Find the application you no longer need.
4. Click the three-dot menu next to the app and select Uninstall.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the removal.

Important: Only uninstall applications you recognize and no longer use. Avoid removing device drivers, Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables, .NET Runtime, or other system components unless you’re certain they aren’t required.

Free Up Storage Space

When the system drive is running low on free space, Windows 11 has less room for temporary files, virtual memory, and updates, which can lead to slower performance. Removing unnecessary files helps Windows run more efficiently.

• Press Windows + I to open Settings.
• Go to System > Storage.
• Click Temporary files and select the items you want to remove.
• Click Remove files to free up disk space.

• Turn on Storage Sense to automatically delete temporary files and empty the Recycle Bin.

Tip: Try to keep at least 15–20% of your system drive free for the best performance, especially if Windows is installed on the C: drive.

Change the Power Mode to Best Performance

Windows 11 balances performance and power consumption based on the selected power mode. If your PC is set to Best power efficiency or Balanced, switching to a higher performance mode can improve responsiveness, particularly when running demanding applications.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to System > Power & battery.
3. Under Power mode, select Best performance. On some devices, you may see “Balanced” and “Best Power efficiency” instead.
4. Restart your PC if prompted.

Note: Using Best performance may increase power consumption, so laptop users can switch back to Balanced when running on battery power.

Turn Off Unnecessary Visual Effects

Windows 11 uses animations, transparency, and other visual effects to improve the overall look and feel of the interface. While these effects don’t use many resources on modern PCs, disabling them can improve responsiveness on older or low-spec systems.

Disabling the visual effects is one of the most efficient methods to make windows 11 faster

1. Press Windows + S, type View advanced system settings, and open the result.
2. Under the Advanced tab, click Settings in the Performance section.
3. Select Adjust for best performance, or choose Custom to disable only the visual effects you don’t need.
4. Click Apply, then OK.

Tip: If you prefer to keep Windows looking modern, choose Custom and leave options such as Smooth edges of screen fonts enabled while disabling the remaining animations.

Keep Windows and Device Drivers Updated

Microsoft regularly releases Windows updates that include performance improvements, bug fixes, and security patches. Keeping your graphics, chipset, storage, and network drivers up to date can also resolve performance issues and improve system stability.

Update Windows

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Windows Update.
3. Click Check for updates.
4. Download and install any available updates, then restart your PC if prompted.

Update Device Drivers

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the category for the device you want to update.
3. For example, to update the Graphics driver on Windows 11, expand the display adapter section,
4. Right-click the device and select Update driver.
5. Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the on-screen instructions.

Note: For graphics cards, it’s often best to download the latest driver directly from Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA for the newest performance improvements.

Scan and Repair Corrupted System Files

Corrupted or missing system files can cause Windows 11 to become slow, unstable, or unresponsive. Windows includes built-in tools SFC and DISM that can scan for damaged files and automatically replace them with healthy copies.

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow
3. Wait for the scan to complete. Don’t close Command Prompt while the scan is running.
4. If Windows finds corrupted files, it will attempt to repair them automatically.
5. Restart your PC after the scan completes.

If SFC reports that it couldn’t repair some files, run the following DISM command to repair the Windows image, then run SFC again:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Tip: These tools only repair Windows system files they don’t affect your personal files or installed applications.

Upgrade to an SSD or Add More RAM

If you’ve tried the software fixes above and your PC is still slow, your hardware may be the limiting factor. Upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD) or adding more memory (RAM) can provide a noticeable improvement in everyday performance.

• Upgrade to an SSD: Replacing a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) with an SSD significantly reduces boot time, speeds up file transfers, and helps applications open much faster.
• Add more RAM: If your PC frequently runs out of memory when multitasking, upgrading from 4 GB to 8 GB or from 8 GB to 16 GB of RAM can improve responsiveness and reduce slowdowns.

Before upgrading, check your PC or motherboard specifications to confirm the type of SSD and the maximum amount of RAM it supports.

Frequently Asked Questions