How to Speed Up Windows 11 in 2026: 10 Proven Fixes for a Faster PC

Is your Windows 11 computer running slower than it should? You’re not alone. Millions of users experience performance degradation after updates, prolonged use, or simply from accumulated digital clutter. The good news: you don’t need to buy a new PC. In this comprehensive 2026 guide, we’ll show you 10 proven ways to speed up Windows 11 that actually work, saving you time, frustration, and money.

Quick Overview: Top 5 Fixes to Try First

Before diving into detailed solutions, here are the most effective quick wins:

1. Disable startup programs – Remove unnecessary apps from startup
2. Adjust visual effects – Turn off fancy animations
3. Enable Storage Sense – Automate temporary file cleanup
4. Update drivers – Especially graphics and network drivers
5. Uninstall bloatware – Remove apps you never use

These five actions alone can improve performance by 30-50% on most systems.

Why Is Windows 11 Running Slow?

Understanding the root causes helps you prevent future slowdowns:

Common Performance Killers

• Startup program overload: Too many apps launching at boot
• Visual effects: Fancy animations consume CPU and GPU resources
• Outdated drivers: Old drivers cause compatibility and performance issues
• Insufficient storage: Less than 15% free space severely impacts performance
• Background apps: Unnecessary programs running constantly
• Malware: Hidden threats consuming system resources
• Fragmented storage: Files scattered across the drive (especially on HDDs)

How to Check Your Current Performance

Before optimizing, establish a baseline:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
2. Click the Performance tab
3. Note your CPU, Memory, and Disk usage
4. Check if any component is consistently above 80%

10 Ways to Speed Up Windows 11 (Detailed Guide)

1. Disable Startup Programs

Many applications add themselves to startup automatically, significantly slowing boot time and consuming RAM. Here’s how to clean them up:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
2. Click the Startup tab at the top
3. Review the list of applications and their “Startup impact”
4. Right-click on unnecessary apps (like Spotify, Adobe updaters, game launchers you don’t use daily)
5. Select Disable for each one

Pro Tip: Keep essential items like antivirus software and audio drivers enabled. Disable everything else initially, then re-enable if you miss something.

What to Disable:

• Chat apps (Discord, Slack) unless you need them instantly
• Game launchers (Steam, Epic Games) – start them manually when gaming
• Media players and streaming apps
• Adobe Creative Cloud if you don’t use it daily
• Manufacturer bloatware (Dell SupportAssist, HP Support Assistant)

2. Adjust Visual Effects for Best Performance

Windows 11’s modern interface includes transparency effects, animations, and shadows that consume GPU and CPU resources. Disabling them frees up resources for actual work.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter
2. Go to the Advanced tab
3. Under “Performance”, click Settings
4. Select Adjust for best performance (this disables all effects)
5. Alternatively, choose Custom and manually enable only:
   • “Smooth edges of screen fonts” (improves text readability)
   • “Show thumbnails instead of icons” (useful for images)
6. Click Apply and OK

Expected Impact: 10-20% improvement on older systems, noticeable smoother operation.

3. Enable Storage Sense

Windows accumulates temporary files, cache, and downloads over time. Storage Sense automatically cleans these, preventing storage-related slowdowns.

Configuration Steps:

1. Go to Settings → System → Storage
2. Turn on Storage Sense
3. Click Storage Sense to configure it
4. Set “Run Storage Sense” to Every day or Every week
5. Enable “Delete temporary files that my apps aren’t using”
6. Set “Delete files in my Recycle Bin” to 30 days
7. Set “Delete files in my Downloads folder” to 30 days (or Never if you prefer)

What Gets Cleaned:

• Temporary system files
• Windows Update cleanup files
• DirectX shader cache
• Delivery Optimization files
• Recycle Bin items

4. Disable Transparency Effects

Acrylic and Mica transparency effects in Windows 11 look great but consume GPU resources. Disabling them provides a small but noticeable performance boost.

Step-by-Step:

1. Open Settings → Personalization → Colors
2. Scroll down to find Transparency effects
3. Toggle it Off

Note: This will make the Start menu, taskbar, and some windows appear solid instead of see-through.

5. Update Your Drivers

Outdated drivers are a leading cause of Windows 11 performance issues. Graphics drivers especially impact gaming and visual performance.

Update Priority List:

1. Graphics drivers (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) – biggest impact on visual performance
2. Network drivers – affects internet speed and connectivity
3. Chipset drivers – motherboard communication efficiency
4. Storage drivers – NVMe/SATA controller performance

How to Update:

1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager
2. Expand categories like “Display adapters” and “Network adapters”
3. Right-click each device and select Update driver
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers

Better Option: Download drivers directly from manufacturer websites (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, Realtek) for the latest versions.

6. Uninstall Unnecessary Apps and Bloatware

Pre-installed apps and forgotten software consume storage and may run background processes. Removing them frees resources.

Common Bloatware to Remove:

• McAfee/Norton trial versions (replace with Windows Security)
• Manufacturer utilities you don’t use
• Pre-installed games (Solitaire, Candy Crush)
• Microsoft Office trial (if you don’t use it)
• Streaming apps you don’t use

How to Uninstall:

1. Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps
2. Click the three dots next to unwanted apps
3. Select Uninstall
4. Follow the prompts to complete removal

7. Change Your Power Plan

Windows 11 defaults to “Balanced” power mode, which limits CPU performance to save battery. Switching to “High performance” unlocks full power.

Step-by-Step:

1. Press Win + R, type powercfg.cpl, press Enter
2. Select High performance or Ultimate Performance (if available)
3. If you don’t see these options:
   1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
   2. Type: powercfg /duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61
   3. This enables Ultimate Performance mode

Laptop Users: Use High performance when plugged in, Balanced on battery.

8. Disable Background Apps

Many Windows apps continue running in the background, checking for updates, syncing data, and consuming resources.

How to Manage Background Apps:

1. Go to Settings → Apps → Startup
2. Toggle off apps you don’t need running constantly
3. For more control: Settings → Privacy & security → Background apps
4. Turn off “Let apps run in the background” entirely, or manage individually

Apps Commonly Running Unnecessarily:

• OneDrive (if you don’t use cloud storage)
• Xbox Game Bar and related services
• Spotify (when not actively listening)
• Skype and other communication apps
• Microsoft Edge background processes

9. Run Disk Cleanup

Windows includes a built-in tool to remove unnecessary files and free up space.

Step-by-Step:

1. Search for “Disk Cleanup” in the Start menu and open it
2. Select drive C: and click OK
3. Select file types to delete:
   • Temporary files
   • Thumbnails
   • Recycle Bin
   • Temporary Internet Files
4. Click Clean up system files for more options
5. Select “Previous Windows installation(s)” if you’ve upgraded
6. Click OK to delete

10. Consider Hardware Upgrades

If software optimizations aren’t enough, hardware upgrades provide the biggest performance gains:

Upgrade Priority:

1. SSD (Solid State Drive): The single biggest upgrade for most PCs. Replacing an HDD with an SSD improves boot time from minutes to seconds.
2. RAM upgrade: Increase to 16GB if you have 8GB. Essential for multitasking and modern applications.
3. CPU upgrade: Only if your motherboard supports it. Often requires a full system rebuild.

SSD Installation Tip:

If upgrading to SSD, use cloning software (Macrium Reflect, Samsung Data Migration) to transfer your Windows installation without reinstalling.

Bonus Tips for Maintaining Performance

Keep Windows Updated

Microsoft regularly releases performance improvements and security patches. Enable automatic updates and install them promptly.

Run Regular Malware Scans

Use Windows Security (built-in) or a trusted antivirus to scan weekly. Malware significantly degrades performance.

Defragment Your Drive (HDD Only)

If you still use a traditional hard drive:

1. Search for “Defragment” in Start menu
2. Select your drive and click Optimize

Note: Do NOT defragment SSDs – it reduces their lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will these changes affect my files or programs?
A: No, these optimizations only change settings and remove unnecessary files. Your personal data remains safe.

Q: How often should I perform these optimizations?
A: Run through this checklist every 3-6 months, or whenever you notice slowdowns.

Q: Can I revert these changes if something breaks?
A: Yes, most changes can be reverted through the same settings menus. System Restore can revert multiple changes at once.

Q: Will gaming performance improve?
A: Yes, especially updating graphics drivers, adjusting power plans, and closing background apps.

Conclusion

Windows 11 performance issues are frustrating but entirely fixable. Start with the free software optimizations in this guide – most users see significant improvements. If your hardware is older (5+ years), consider an SSD upgrade for the biggest impact.

Quick Checklist:

• ☐ Disable unnecessary startup programs
• ☐ Turn off visual effects
• ☐ Enable Storage Sense
• ☐ Update all drivers
• ☐ Remove bloatware
• ☐ Change power plan to High Performance
• ☐ Disable background apps
• ☐ Run Disk Cleanup

Your PC will thank you with faster boot times, smoother operation, and better responsiveness!