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If your computer is always taking ages to execute a simple task, there is no need to worry and it does not necessarily mean that it is time to dump it and get a new one.
There are some simple and quick methods that you can use to make your computer work faster and I will explain them in this article.
How to make your laptop faster – 14 tips & tricks
1. Check your storage space
It is common knowledge that you will need to keep up to 15% of storage space to make sure that your computer does not become slow. If you realize that the hard disk is almost full, then it’s time to delete unnecessary files and uninstall apps that you rarely use.
However, if your hard disk still has plenty of space or if this method does not work then you need to check other points in this list.
2. Organize desktop icons into folders
You can also arrange desktop icons to have more space on your desktop background and to reduce the load on your computer’s memory because it will need to load each icon.
But when you put desktop icons into folders, your computer only needs to load the folder at once.
This will make a minor change in performance, but is really easy to achieve.
3. Save media files to the cloud or an external hard drive
If you have important media files on your computer that you hardly check, you can move them to the cloud and you get an external drive and transfer all the files. By doing this, you will free up more space on your computer and also improve the processing speed.
4. Close unused tabs
There are times when we forget to close tabs after using them, which can cause unnecessary load on the memory of the computer. By closing unused tabs, it will reduce the number of tasks that your RAM is processing and thereby increase the speed of the computer.
5. Remove unused programs
A lot of computers are equipped with inbuilt programs that are not relevant to every user, and even though you rarely open these programs, they can still slow down the speed of your computer, they also waste your hard disk space and run as background processes.
However, that you are well aware of the importance of the programs because some programs are vital for the running of your system and other applications.
6. Remove temporary files
There are a lot of temporary files on your computer that are no more useful. For example, browsing history, cookies, and caches occupy a lot of space on your hard disk space. Removing these files will ensure that you have more space on your hard disk and it will also help boost the overall speed and response time of your system.
For Macbook users, you can download CCleaner to locate and delete these unnecessary files on your hard disk. If you own a laptop that runs on Windows OS, you can carry out a disk cleanup to delete this, to do this, go to ‘Start’ and click on ‘All Programs’ then click on ‘Accessories’ locate ‘System Tools’ and click on it, then click on ‘Disk Cleanup’.
7. Stop programs from starting automatically when you switch on your computer
If you do not have any reason for using a specific app anytime you switch on your computer, then stop it from launching automatically. When you set up a program to automatically start anytime you switch on, it eats up the memory of your computer.
If you are on OS X, you can stop these programs and applications by clicking on the Apple icon and then locate ‘System Preferences’ then go to ‘User & Groups’ and then click on ‘Login Items’. Here, you can gain access to the list of all the programs that automatically start when you switch on your computer will appear and you can uncheck them.
If you are on Windows, click on the ‘Start’ icon, then search for “MSConfig”, and click on the ‘Startup tab’. The list of all the programs will pop up, and you can uncheck them one after the other.
8. Delete unused language resources
Your computer comes with several languages and each language uses a lot of resources that consume space on your hard disk. If you are using an OS X computer, you can download Monolingual to remove these resources.
If you are on Windows, all you need to do locate Settings, navigate to Time & Language, click on Region & Language and select the languages that you are not using and finally click on Remove.
9. Update your computer’s software
A lot of people always try to avoid updating the software of their computer because they feel that it’s quite stressful, but it’s worth it.
A software update comes with solutions to common issues like bugs and glitches. If you own a Mac, and you wold like to know if your software is up to date, locate ‘Apps’ and click on ‘Updates’.
If you are sung a Windows computer, click on the ‘Start’ icon and click on ‘All Programs’, then navigate to ‘Windows Update’ and click on ‘Check for Updates’.
10. Allow your computer to rest
A computer that is always overheating will later become slow. If you realize that your computer is getting extremely hot, you can shut it down and allow it to rest for a while. What’s more, you can position a cooling fan in front of your PC or place it on a flat surface to aid ventilation.
11. Restart at least once a week
When you use your computer for days without restarting it, it allows background programs and applications to hog its memory. Restarting the system refreshes the memory and you will be able to start afresh.
12. Remove unnecessary dashboard widgets & gadgets
For Mac users, chances are high that you are familiar with dashboard widgets which are also known as gadgets on Windows.
These icons consume a lot of memory because they run in the background even when you are not using them. On Mac, you can make use of Widget Manager to delete these widgets and on Windows, you only have to click on the right-click button on the gadget and select uninstall.
13. Remove unused browser extensions or plugins
Browser extensions and plugins make it easier to enjoy browsing the internet however, installing too many can affect the speed of your web browser. If you will like to enhance the speed at which your browser loads, you can delete the extension or plugins that you are no more using.
14. Factory reset your laptop
Factory resetting your laptop will probably make it faster, but it comes with a few downsides.
First, this action will delete all the data on your laptop, so make sure you have a backup of your files.
Second, the increased performance is often temporary. In most cases, the reason why your laptop is slow is outdated hardware, so you should consider upgrading your laptop or getting a new one.
