Computers are a lot like cars. You don't have to be a mechanic to own one, but a little routine maintenance can prevent a lot of problems.
The same is true with your computer.
Over time, Windows installs updates, programs accumulate, files pile up, and more programs decide they should start automatically every time you turn on your computer. Eventually, you may notice that the computer takes longer to start, programs take longer to open, or everything just seems slower than it used to.
That doesn't necessarily mean you need a new computer.
Before spending money on upgrades or replacing your PC, there are several simple things you can do yourself.
You don't need to understand how Windows works. You don't need special computer tools. And you certainly don't need to start changing complicated system settings.
Let's keep this simple.
1. Keep Windows Updated
One of the easiest things you can do to keep your computer working properly is also one of the most important:
Keep Windows updated.
Windows updates aren't just about adding new features. Updates can fix problems, improve reliability, and install important security fixes.
Fortunately, Windows normally handles much of this automatically.
But it is still a good idea to check occasionally.
How to Check for Windows Updates
Click the Start button.
Click Settings.
Click Windows Update.
Click Check for updates.
If updates are available, Windows will normally download and install them for you.
You may eventually see a message asking you to restart the computer.
Go ahead and restart it when it is convenient.
Don't Keep Putting Off the Restart
We've all done it.
Windows says:
Restart required.
You click:
Remind me later.
Then later becomes tomorrow. Tomorrow becomes next week.
Meanwhile, the update may not be completely installed.
If Windows has installed updates and is asking for a restart, give it one.
Restart Your Computer Occasionally Anyway
There is another reason to restart your computer.
Many people rarely shut down their computers anymore. They simply close the laptop lid or let the computer go to sleep.
There is nothing wrong with that.
But restarting the computer occasionally gives Windows a chance to start fresh and can clear up some temporary problems.
If your computer suddenly seems sluggish or something isn't behaving normally, one of the first things I recommend is simple:
Restart the computer.
You might be surprised how often that fixes the problem.
2. Check How Much Storage Space You Have
Your computer has a storage drive where Windows, your programs, documents, pictures, videos, and other files are stored.
Think of it as a filing cabinet.
If you keep stuffing things into that filing cabinet without ever removing anything, eventually it becomes full.
Your computer is no different.
When storage space becomes very low, Windows can have difficulty installing updates and your computer may begin performing poorly.
Fortunately, checking your storage space is easy.
How to Check Your Storage
Click the File Explorer icon on the taskbar.
It looks like a small folder.
Then click:
This PC
You should see something similar to:
Windows (C:)
Underneath it, Windows will show how much space is being used and how much is still available.
You don't have to understand all the numbers.
The important thing is simply making sure the drive isn't almost completely full.
You can also see more details by going to:
Start > Settings > System > Storage
Windows will show you what is using your storage space.
You may see categories such as:
Installed apps
Temporary files
Documents
Pictures
Videos
Other
This can help you figure out where all that storage space went.
3. Remove Files You Don't Need
This is where people sometimes get nervous.
They see hundreds or thousands of files and start wondering:
What can I safely delete?
The answer is simple.
Don't go looking through Windows system folders trying to decide what should be deleted.
Windows has tools that can help you identify files that are generally safe to remove.
Use Cleanup Recommendations
Go to:
Start > Settings > System > Storage
Then select:
Cleanup recommendations
Windows may show several categories of things that can be cleaned up, including temporary files, unused apps, or large files.
Take your time and look through the recommendations.
You do not have to delete everything Windows suggests.
If you don't recognize something or aren't sure whether you need it, leave it alone.
There is no prize for deleting the most files.
The goal is simply to remove things you know you don't need.
Be Careful With Your Downloads Folder
One folder deserves special attention:
Downloads
Every time you download something from the Internet, there's a good chance it ends up here.
That could include:
Pictures
PDF documents
Software installers
Forms
Tax documents
Manuals
Email attachments
Files you downloaded months or years ago
Downloads can quietly grow into one of the largest folders on your computer.
But don't simply delete everything in it.
Open the folder and look through it first.
If you know you don't need something anymore, delete it.
If you want to keep something important, move it into the appropriate Documents, Pictures, or other folder.
Empty the Recycle Bin
When you delete a file in Windows, it usually isn't immediately erased.
It goes into the Recycle Bin.
That's a good thing because it gives you another chance to recover something you deleted accidentally.
But files sitting in the Recycle Bin can still take up storage space.
After you're sure you don't need them anymore:
Right-click the Recycle Bin.
Select Empty Recycle Bin.
One warning:
Once you empty the Recycle Bin, getting those files back becomes much more difficult.
So check before you empty it.
Let Windows Help With Storage Sense
Windows also has a feature called Storage Sense.
Don't let the name make it sound complicated.
Storage Sense simply helps Windows clean up certain unnecessary files automatically.
To find it, go to:
Start > Settings > System > Storage
Look for:
Storage Sense
You can turn it on and let Windows periodically clean up temporary files.
For many novice computer users, this is much safer than installing some unknown "PC cleaner" from the Internet.
In fact, I generally recommend using the cleanup tools already built into Windows before installing any third-party cleanup program.
4. Uninstall Programs You Never Use
Programs take up storage space too.
And over the years, most computers collect programs that were installed once and never used again.
Maybe you installed a program to do one particular job five years ago.
Maybe the computer came with software you've never opened.
Or perhaps you installed something, tried it once, didn't like it, and forgot it was there.
You can see your installed programs by going to:
Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps
Look through the list.
If you recognize a program and know you don't use it anymore, you can uninstall it.
Click the three dots beside the program and select:
Uninstall
But use some common sense.
If you don't recognize a program, don't assume you don't need it.
Computers often contain software related to hardware, printers, sound, graphics, security, and other functions.
If you're uncertain what something does, leave it alone until you find out.
Again, the goal isn't to see how much you can delete.
The goal is to remove the things you know you don't need.
5. Stop Unnecessary Programs From Starting Automatically
This is one of my favorite simple ways to improve the way a computer feels.
Over time, programs have a habit of adding themselves to Windows startup.
That means when you turn on your computer, Windows isn't the only thing starting.
You might also have:
Messaging programs
Music programs
Game launchers
Meeting programs
Printer utilities
Cloud programs
Software update programs
Other applications
Starting all these programs takes time and uses computer resources.
The funny thing is, you may not even use most of them.
See What's Starting With Windows
Go to:
Start > Settings > Apps > Startup
You'll see a list of programs.
Beside each program is an On or Off switch.
On means Windows will automatically start that program when you sign in.
Off means it won't.
Turning a startup program off does not normally uninstall the program.
You can still open it whenever you want.
You're simply telling Windows:
Don't start this automatically every time I turn on my computer.
What Should You Turn Off?
Here's where I want you to be careful.
Don't look at the list and start turning everything off.
Instead ask yourself:
Do I need this program running every time I start my computer?
Suppose Spotify starts every time you turn on the computer.
Do you need Spotify running all day?
Probably not.
Turn its startup setting off.
You can still click Spotify whenever you want to listen to music.
The same may be true for game launchers, meeting software, messaging programs, and other applications.
But if you don't know what something is, leave it alone until you do.
I especially wouldn't start disabling security software or anything you know is important to your work.
You don't have to eliminate every startup program.
You're simply getting rid of the unnecessary ones.
6. Don't Keep 40 Programs and Browser Tabs Open
Sometimes the computer isn't really the problem.
We're the problem.
We open a browser.
Then another browser window.
Then 15 tabs.
Then Microsoft Word.
Then email.
Then Facebook.
Then YouTube.
Then several other programs.
And we leave everything running.
Every open program needs some of your computer's resources.
The same can be true of browser tabs.
Modern computers are designed to run several things at once, but there is still a limit.
If your computer is running slowly, close the things you aren't using.
You don't need 37 browser tabs open just because you might look at one of them again next Thursday.
Bookmark the page and close the tab.
7. Restart Before Assuming Something Is Broken
I mentioned restarting earlier, but it deserves repeating because this simple step solves so many problems.
If your computer suddenly becomes slow, a program stops responding, the Internet acts strange, or something simply doesn't seem right:
Restart the computer.
Not sleep.
Not close the laptop lid.
Restart.
Click:
Start > Power > Restart
Then give Windows a chance to start normally again.
If the problem disappears, you've saved yourself a lot of unnecessary troubleshooting.
8. Don't Install Every Program That Promises to "Speed Up Your PC"
This is especially important for novice computer users.
You may see advertisements on websites claiming things like:
Your computer has 4,326 errors!
Your PC is running dangerously slow!
Download our PC cleaner now!
Don't panic.
And don't automatically install the program.
Windows already includes tools for updating the computer, managing storage, removing temporary files, uninstalling programs, controlling startup programs, and monitoring security.
For routine maintenance, you usually don't need a mysterious program from an advertisement to do those things for you.
Some cleanup programs are legitimate.
Others may be unnecessary.
And some can create more problems than they solve.
If you don't know what a program is, don't install it simply because an advertisement tells you your computer needs it.
9. Give Your Computer a Little Breathing Room
There is one simple idea behind much of what we've discussed.
Your computer works better when it has some breathing room.
That means:
Don't completely fill the storage drive.
Don't automatically run a dozen programs you never use.
Don't keep unnecessary programs installed forever.
Don't leave everything open all the time.
Don't postpone updates indefinitely.
You don't need to obsess over computer maintenance.
A little attention occasionally is enough.
A Simple Computer Maintenance Routine
You don't need to do this every day.
Once a month, take a few minutes and do the following:
Check Windows Update.
Restart the computer.
Check your available storage space.
Review temporary files and Cleanup recommendations.
Look through your Downloads folder.
Empty the Recycle Bin after checking it.
Uninstall programs you know you no longer use.
Review your Startup apps.
Close programs and browser tabs you aren't using.
That's it.
You don't need to become a computer technician.
You don't need to understand processors, memory management, system services, registry entries, or all the other technical things happening behind the scenes.
You just need to perform a little basic housekeeping.
What If the Computer Is Still Slow?
There is an important point to understand.
Maintenance can help a computer run the way it is supposed to run.
It cannot make an old or underpowered computer magically become a new high-performance machine.
If you've cleaned things up, installed your updates, reduced unnecessary startup programs, restarted the computer, and still have serious performance problems, something else may be going on.
The computer may not have enough memory.
The storage drive may be failing.
A program could be causing problems.
Malware could be involved.
Or the computer may simply be getting old.
But don't jump to those conclusions first.
Start with the easy things.
I've worked with computers long enough to know that people sometimes assume the worst when the solution is something simple.
That's the philosophy behind ExtraHelp.us.
You don't have to know everything about computers.
You just need someone to explain what to do in words you can understand.
Start with the simple stuff.
You might be surprised how much difference it makes.
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