7 ways to boost Windows 11 performance

Microsoft’s Windows 11 is the default operating system on most new laptops and desktops because of its superb performance and up-to-date features. It’s also user-friendly and feels like home for anyone familiar with the Microsoft ecosystem.

Windows 11 delivers a smooth experience for most users but can still have performance issues caused by the hardware, third-party apps, and incorrect settings. As a long-time user, here are my go-to ways I improve Windows 11 performance when my PC is running slow. — and how you can hopefully boost your PC’s performance.

1 Health Check

Find out about your PC’s capabilities to run Windows 11

Running a health check won’t make your laptop faster, but it is a great place to start if you’re experiencing problems. The app will check if your hardware can run Windows 11 and display any problems preventing the OS from working well. Running a health check on newer machines with Windows 11 preinstalled isn’t necessary because they already meet the criteria. You can still use the battery, storage capacity, and other tools to analyze performance.

Running the PC Health Check app is critical if you’ve updated an older laptop or bought one second-hand and are having Windows 11 issues.

1. Download the Windows PC Health Check app

2. Open the app, accept the license terms, and click Install.

3. Once installed, tick the Open Windows PC health Check box and click Finish.

4. When the PC health at a glance window opens, click on Check Now.

5. You’ll get a message telling you whether your PC meets or doesn’t meet the requirements to run Windows 11 properly.

6. Click on See all results to see how your hardware compares to Windows 11 minimum requirements.

2 Disable Startup programs

You probably aren’t using most of them anyway

Windows 11 can take a while to get going if there’s a long list of startup programs to run every time you switch on your PC. Many programs automatically add themselves to your startup list and can be easily removed to speed up performance. You’ll still be able to access them whenever you like; they won’t be slowing your computer down anymore.

1. Click on Settings.

2. Open Apps.

3. Click on Startup. A list of all the startup apps will open. You’ll be able to see at a glance if they have a high, medium, or no impact on performance.

4. Adjust the slider on the apps you want to remove from the startup list.

3 Antivirus Scan

Use reputable software to protect yourself from threats

Viruses and other malware can wreak havoc on Windows 11, leading to slow performance and other issues. That’s why installing a reputable antivirus and keeping it updated to handle the latest threats is critical to Windows 11 performance. Performing regular scans to detect and fix security, performance, and network errors can go a long way to keeping your PC functioning correctly and preventing unnecessary problems.

1. Open your antivirus. There should be a desktop or taskbar icon to click on.

2. Click on Scan.

3. Wait for the antivirus to scan your PC.

4. It will display a list of threats if it finds any. It will say no threats were detected if none were found.

5. Click on Next to exit or remove the threats.

4 Uninstall unwanted apps

They have a way of piling up unless you do something about it

Most of us love trying new games and other software, which tend to accumulate on our PCs until the desktop is littered with unused icons. Removing unused apps can make finding what you’re looking for easier without needing to sift through junk you no longer use. It also frees up valuable storage space or more apps or other files and can give your Windows 11 a performance boost.

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Apps.

3. Click on Installed apps. A list of installed apps will open

4. Scroll to the app you’d like to remove and click on the three dots on the right side of its description.

5. Click on Uninstall.

6. A message saying this app and its related info will be uninstalled. Click on Uninstall again to remove the app.

5 Remove Temporary files

Get rid of files that aren’t needed anymore

Temporary files can accumulate on your PC without your knowledge and take up valuable space. Windows creates them to ensure fast speeds when accessing certain apps and data integrity if crashes occur. Removing temporary files hiding on your computer frees storage space to streamline performance.

Don’t be alarmed if you see that previous Windows installations take up a large proportion of the temporary files. These stored files are from before your last Windows update and are required if you ever want to revert to the older version. It’s okay to remove them if you’re 100% satisfied that your latest update is working great and you need the space. However, it’s better to keep them if you have the space because they can make it easier to solve future potential Windows problems.

1. Click on Settings.

2. Click on System.

3. Click on Storage.

4. Click on the bin icon on Temporary files.

5. Click on Remove files. A window will open saying that the selected files and their data will be permanently deleted.

6. Click on Continue.

6 Change visual effects for the best performance

An easy way to improve Windows 11 performance on older devices

Changing the visual effects settings can improve Windows 11 performance at a cost. Most PCs are set to ” Let Windows choose what’s best for my computer” as the default plan, and switching to “Adjust for best performance” will disable animations, thumbnails, shadows, and other graphics elements to reduce hardware usage. You can also choose the Custom setting as a middle-ground alternative and enable and disable whichever features you prefer.

This setting can improve performance, but it does so at the expense of appearance and isn’t pretty to look at. It also works best on older hardware that struggles to render extra visual elements and has limited benefits on newer PCs and laptops.

1. Click on Settings

2. Type advanced system settings in the search bar to open the settings.

3. The System Properties window will open.

4. Click on Settings under the performance tab.

5. Tick the Adjust for best performance box in the Performance Options tab.

7 High-Performance Power Plan

Maximum power to your CPU for smoother performance

Windows 11 offers several different power plans to regulate CPU usage and is set to Balanced by default. Changing the power plan to High-Performance disables power-saving features and delivers constant high voltage to boost the CPU’s performance.

The High-Performance plan can squeeze extra power out of the CPU to improve Windows 11 performance. However, it has some disadvantages. Power consumption increases, and your components may experience excessive heat and higher wear because the CPU always runs at its highest capacity, even when idle.

1. Open Settings.

2. Type Control Panel in the search bar and select it from the menu.

3. Open System and Security in the Control Panel.

4. Open Power Options.

5. Tick the Performance box in the Choose or customize a power plan window.