{"id":14757,"date":"2018-08-22T03:19:56","date_gmt":"2018-08-22T03:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.process.st\/templates\/improve-pc-performance-in-windows-10\/"},"modified":"2024-02-28T21:36:09","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T21:36:09","slug":"improve-pc-performance-in-windows-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.process.st\/templates\/improve-pc-performance-in-windows-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Improve PC performance in Windows 10"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"record-the-clients-details\">\n<h2>Record the client's details<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p><span>Skip this task if troubleshooting your own PC. This task is for tracking a customer's details as received via Zendesk.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This process is based on the Microsoft help article&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/help\/4002019\/windows-10-improve-pc-performance\" rel=\"nofollow\">Tips to improve PC Performance<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-field-content form-field-content\">\n<div class=\"form-group\">\n   <label> Zendesk Case ID <\/label><br \/>\n   <input type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Something will be typed here...\" disabled class=\"form-control\">\n  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-field-content form-field-content\">\n<div class=\"form-group\">\n   <label> Requester Name <\/label><br \/>\n   <input type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Something will be typed here...\" disabled class=\"form-control\">\n  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-field-content form-field-content\">\n<div class=\"form-group\">\n   <label> Windows 10 Build Version <\/label><br \/>\n   <input type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Something will be typed here...\" disabled class=\"form-control\">\n  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"textarea-field-content form-field-content\">\n<div class=\"form-group\">\n   <label> Description of performance issue <\/label><br \/>\n   <textarea placeholder=\"Something will be typed here...\" rows=\"3\" disabled class=\"form-control\"><\/textarea>\n  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"make-sure-you-have-the-latest-updates-for-windows-and-device-drivers\">\n<h2>Make sure you have the latest updates for Windows and device drivers<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>One the best ways to get the most of your PC is to make sure you have the latest version of Windows 10 installed. When you check for updates, your PC will also search for the latest device drivers, which can also help improve your PC\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n<p><span>To check for updates<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button, then select&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Update &amp; security<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Windows Update<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Check for updates<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Look under Update status and do one of the following:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span>If the status says \"Your device is up to date,\" go to the next tip.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>If the status says \"Updates are available,\" select&nbsp;<strong>Install now<\/strong>, and go to the next step in this procedure.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span>Select the updates you want to install, then select&nbsp;<strong>Install<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Restart your PC, do what you were doing before, and then see if your PC is running better.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>For more info about updates, including how you can have them installed automatically for you, see the<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/help\/12373\" rel=\"nofollow\">Windows Update FAQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If your PC still runs slow, continue to the next tip.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"restart-your-pc-and-open-only-the-apps-you-need\">\n<h2>Restart your PC and open only the apps you need<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>Having more open apps, programs, web browsers, and so on can slow down your PC. If this is happening, restart your PC and then close the apps, programs, and windows you\u2019re not using.<\/p>\n<p><span>To restart your PC<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button &gt;&nbsp;<strong>Power<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Restart<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>After your PC restarts, open just the apps you need, then close them when you\u2019re done.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Sometimes apps that were made for an&nbsp;earlier version of Windows will still run on Windows 10, but they might slow down your PC. If this happens after you open a certain program, check the software company\u2019s website for an updated version, or run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter.<\/p>\n<p><span>To run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>In the search box on the taskbar, type&nbsp;<strong>troubleshoot<\/strong>, and then select&nbsp;<strong>Troubleshoot<\/strong>, which has&nbsp;System settings&nbsp;listed underneath it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>In Troubleshoot, select&nbsp;<strong>Program Compatibility Troubleshooter<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Run the troubleshooter<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Select the program that you\u2019re having problems with, then select&nbsp;<strong>Next<\/strong>&nbsp;and continue through the troubleshooter.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>PC still running slow? Continue on.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"check-memory-and-memory-usage\">\n<h2>Check memory and memory usage<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>With&nbsp;memory, one of the first things to do is find out how much memory (RAM) you have and how much of it is currently being used. You can find out these things and much more in Task Manager.<\/p>\n<p><span>To check memory and memory usage<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>Press&nbsp;<strong>Ctrl + Alt + Delete<\/strong>, and then select&nbsp;<strong>Task Manager<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>In Task Manager, select&nbsp;<strong>More details<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt; the&nbsp;<strong>Performance<\/strong>&nbsp;tab &gt;&nbsp;<strong>Memory<\/strong>.<\/span><br \/><span><br \/>First, see how much you have total, and then check the graph and see how much RAM is being used.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<div class=\"image-content\">\n<figure>\n   <a href=\"https:\/\/www.process.st\/templates\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/hI_yWI7Z7ERvwIC5DhpGUA.png\" alt=\"1. Total amount of memory (RAM)\n2. Memory in use\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.process.st\/templates\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/hI_yWI7Z7ERvwIC5DhpGUA.png\"> <\/a><figcaption>\n     1. Total amount of memory (RAM) 2. Memory in use<br \/>\n   <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p><span>If you find that&nbsp;much of your RAM is regularly being used, consider adding more RAM if possible\u2014especially if your PC only has 1 or 2 gigabytes (GB) of RAM. To learn more about what kind of RAM your PC model uses, first look at the memory info in Task Manager, and then visit the PC manufacturer\u2019s website for more specific info.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"image-content\">\n<figure>\n   <a href=\"https:\/\/www.process.st\/templates\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/tYrMNj7P9rmXlvIagihIAQ.png\" alt=\"1. Type of memory (RAM) PC uses\n2. RAM speed\nMemory slots used\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.process.st\/templates\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/tYrMNj7P9rmXlvIagihIAQ.png\"> <\/a><figcaption>\n     1. Type of memory (RAM) PC uses 2. RAM speed Memory slots used<br \/>\n   <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>Here\u2019s some info about the minimum memory requirements for Windows 10:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>Windows 10 (32-bit) can run on a PC with 1 GB of RAM, but it runs better with 2 GB. For better performance, add memory so you have 3 GB or more.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Windows 10 (64-bit) can run on a PC with 2 GB of RAM, but it runs better with 4 GB. For better performance, add memory so you have 6 GB or more.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more info about the system requirements for Windows 10, see the<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/windows\/windows-10-specifications\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Windows 10 Specifications<\/a><span>&nbsp;<\/span>page.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<h4><span>Use ReadyBoost to help improve performance<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>Like&nbsp;earlier versions of Windows, Windows 10 has ReadyBoost. ReadyBoost lets you use a removable drive, like a USB flash drive, to improve your PC\u2019s performance without opening your PC and adding more memory (RAM). To use ReadyBoost, you\u2019ll need a USB flash drive or a memory card that has at least 500 MB free and a high data transfer rate. For more info about ReadyBoost, see<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/help\/2442620\" rel=\"nofollow\">ReadyBoost in Windows 10<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span>To use ReadyBoost<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>Insert the USB flash drive into a USB port on your PC.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>On the taskbar, select&nbsp;<strong>File Explorer<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Press and hold (or right-click) the USB flash drive (or SD card if you used one instead), and then select&nbsp;<strong>Properties<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Select the&nbsp;<strong>ReadyBoost<\/strong>&nbsp;tab, then select&nbsp;<strong>Use this device<\/strong>.<\/span><br \/><span>Windows determines if the device can use ReadyBoost. If it can\u2019t,&nbsp;it'll let you know.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>After Windows determines how much free space to use to optimize memory, select&nbsp;<strong>OK<\/strong>&nbsp;to reserve this space&nbsp;so ReadyBoost can use it.\n<p>When you look at the contents of the USB flash drive in File Explorer, you\u2019ll see a file named ReadyBoost.sfcache on the flash drive. This file shows how much space is reserved for ReadyBoost.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p class=\"style-info\"><span><strong>Note<\/strong><br \/><\/span><span>If Windows is installed on a solid state drive (SSD), ReadyBoost can\u2019t be used because the SSD drive is already fast and you won\u2019t get better performance by using ReadyBoost.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<h4><span>Change the paging file size to improve performance<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>The paging file is an area on your hard disk that Windows uses like memory. Increasing the paging file size can help improve your PC\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>In the search box on the taskbar, type&nbsp;<strong>advanced system<\/strong>, and then select&nbsp;<strong>View advanced system settings<\/strong>, which has Control panel listed underneath it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>In System Properties, on the&nbsp;<strong>Advanced<\/strong>&nbsp;tab,&nbsp;select&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;in the Performance area.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>In Performance Options, select the&nbsp;<strong>Advanced<\/strong>&nbsp;tab &gt;&nbsp;<strong>Change<\/strong>&nbsp;in the Virtual memory area.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Clear the&nbsp;<strong>Automatically manage paging file size for all drives<\/strong>&nbsp;check box.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Select&nbsp;<strong>Custom size<\/strong>, then enter an initial size (in MB) and maximum size in the corresponding boxes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Select&nbsp;<strong>Set<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>OK<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Restart your PC by selecting the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button &gt;&nbsp;<strong>Power<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Restart<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Use your PC then see if it\u2019s running better. If it\u2019s not, try the next tip.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"check-processor-and-processor-usage\">\n<h2>Check processor and processor usage<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>Check the performance specifications of the processor are powerful enough for intended use case.<\/p>\n<p>Check for processor hogs:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>Press&nbsp;<strong>Ctrl + Alt + Delete<\/strong>, and then select&nbsp;<strong>Task Manager<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>In Task Manager, select&nbsp;<strong>More details<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt; the&nbsp;<strong>Performance<\/strong>&nbsp;tab &gt;&nbsp;<strong>CPU<\/strong>.<\/span><br \/><span><br \/>First, see CPU usage %, and then check the graph and see if CPU % is higher than 20% while idle.<\/span><span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span>If CPU % is high while idle, investigate which processes (Apps) are using the CPU. Remove them if the App not required.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If the App is required, investigate a solution to resolve the high CPU usage.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"check-for-low-disk-space\">\n<h2>Check for low disk space<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>You may improve performance if you free some disk space on your PC.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To check for low disk space<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button, and then select&nbsp;<strong>Settings&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt; System&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt; Storage<\/strong>.<br \/><a href=\"storagesense?activationSource=SMC-Article-4002019\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Open Storage settings<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Your drives will be listed in the Storage area. Note the amount of free space and total size for each drive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"style-warning\">If your PC is not low on space, try the next tip.<\/p>\n<p>You can use Storage Sense to delete unnecessary or temporary files from your device, which can also free up space.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If you turn on Storage Sense, Windows will automatically free up space by getting rid of unnecessary files\u2014including files in your recycle bin\u2014when you're low on disk space or at intervals you specify. The instructions below show you how to delete temporary files and how to turn on and configure Storage Sense.<\/p>\n<p>If you can't find Storage Sense on your device using the following steps, see the \"Free up space with Disk cleanup\" section below instead.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"style-warning\"><strong>Note<\/strong><br \/>You may not want to delete temporary files to improve performance. While these files may not be used at the moment, they help your apps load and run faster.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To delete temporary files with Storage Sense<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button, then select&nbsp;<strong>Settings&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong>&gt;<strong>&nbsp;System&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt; Storage&nbsp;<\/strong>.<br \/><a href=\"storagesense?activationSource=SMC-Article-4002019\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Open Storage settings<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Select&nbsp;<strong>Temporary files&nbsp;<\/strong>in the storage breakdown.&nbsp;<strong>Note<\/strong>: If you don't see Temporary files listed, select&nbsp;<strong>Show more categories<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Windows will take a few moments to determine what files and apps are taking up the most space on your PC.<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Select the items you want to delete, and then select&nbsp;<strong>Remove files<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>To see what's in your Recycle Bin before you empty it, open it from your desktop. If you don't see the Recycle Bin icon&nbsp;&nbsp;on your desktop, in the search bar on the taskbar, type&nbsp;<strong>recycle bin<\/strong>, then select&nbsp;<strong>Recycle Bin<\/strong>&nbsp;from the list of results.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"style-warning\"><strong>Note<\/strong><br \/>Windows moves files you delete to the Recycle Bin in case you change your mind and need them again in the future. You might be able to free up a significant amount of space by deleting Recycle Bin files to&nbsp;<em>permanently&nbsp;<\/em>remove files you've previously deleted.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To turn on and configure Storage Sense<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Start&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;button, then select&nbsp;<strong>Settings&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>&gt;&nbsp;<strong>System&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong>&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Storage&nbsp;<\/strong>.<br \/><a href=\"storagesense?activationSource=SMC-Article-4002019\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Open Storage settings<\/a><\/li>\n<li>In the Storage area, turn on&nbsp;<strong>Storage Sense<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Select&nbsp;<strong>Configure Storage Sense or run it now<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>In the<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>Storage Sense area, choose how often you want Storage Sense to run.<\/li>\n<li>In the Temporary Files area, select&nbsp;<strong>Delete temporary files that my apps aren't using<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Select which files you want Storage Sense to delete (your choices are files in your Recycle Bin and in your Downloads folder), then select the corresponding time intervals.<\/li>\n<li>Scroll down and select&nbsp;<strong>Clean now<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Windows will take a few moment to clean up your files, and then you'll see a message indicating how much disk space has been freed up.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If your system doesn't have Storage Sense, you can use the Disk Cleanup tool to delete temporary files and system files from your device.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To run Disk Cleanup<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>In the search box on the taskbar, type&nbsp;<strong>disk cleanup<\/strong>, then select&nbsp;<strong>Disk Cleanup<\/strong>&nbsp;from the list of results.<\/li>\n<li>Select the checkbox next to the type of files you want to delete. (To view a description of each type of file, select the name.) By default,&nbsp;<strong>Downloaded Program Files<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Temporary Internet Files<\/strong>, and&nbsp;<strong>Thumbnails<\/strong>&nbsp;are selected. Be sure to clear those check boxes if you don't want to delete those files.<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>To free up even more space, select&nbsp;<strong>Clean up system files<\/strong>.<strong>&nbsp;Disk Cleanup<\/strong>&nbsp;will take a few moments to calculate the amount of space that a can be freed up.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"style-warning\"><strong>Note<\/strong><br \/>If it\u2019s been fewer than 10 days since you upgraded to Windows 10, your previous version of Windows will be listed as a system file you can delete. If you need to free up drive space, you can delete it, but keep in mind that you'll be deleting your Windows.old folder, which contains files that give you the option to go back to your previous version of Windows. If you delete your previous version of Windows, this can't be undone. (You won't be able to go back to your previous version of Windows.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Select the types of files you want to delete, select&nbsp;<strong>OK<\/strong>, then select&nbsp;<strong>Delete files<\/strong>&nbsp;in the confirmation window to start the cleanup.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If your PC still runs slowly, try uninstalling apps you don't use anymore.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To uninstall apps you don\u2019t use anymore<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button, and then select&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Apps<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Apps &amp; features<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Search for a specific app or sort them to see which ones are using&nbsp;the most space.<\/li>\n<li>When you find an app to remove,&nbsp;choose it from the list and select&nbsp;<strong>Uninstall<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Restart your PC and try to reproduce the performance issue.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If your PC still runs slowly, try moving files to another drive.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To move files to another drive<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you have photos, music, or other files that you want to keep but don't use often, consider saving them to removable media, like a USB drive. You'll still be able to use them when the drive is connected, but they won't take up space on your PC.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Connect the removable media to your PC.<\/li>\n<li>Open&nbsp;<strong>File Explorer<\/strong>&nbsp;from the taskbar and find the files you want to move.<\/li>\n<li>Select the files, go to the Home tab, and then select&nbsp;<strong>Move to &gt; Choose location<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Select your removable media from the location list, and then select&nbsp;<strong>Move<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Restart your PC and try to reproduce the performance issue.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/help\/12425\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Get more info about freeing drive space in Windows 10<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If your PC still runs slowly, try the next tip.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"make-sure-the-system-is-managing-the-page-file-size\">\n<h2>Make sure the system is managing the page file size<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>The paging file is an area on your hard disk that Windows uses like memory. There's a setting in Windows 10 that manages the page file size automatically, which can help improve your PC\u2019s performance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>To make sure automatic page file management is turned on<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>In the search box on the taskbar, type&nbsp;<strong>advanced system<\/strong>, and then select&nbsp;<strong>View advanced system settings<\/strong>, which has Control panel listed underneath it.<\/li>\n<li>In System Properties, select the&nbsp;<strong>Advanced<\/strong>&nbsp;tab, then select&nbsp;<strong>Settings&nbsp;<\/strong>in the Performance area.<\/li>\n<li>In Performance Options, select the&nbsp;<strong>Advanced<\/strong>&nbsp;tab, then select&nbsp;<strong>Change&nbsp;<\/strong>in the Virtual memory area.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure the&nbsp;<strong>Automatically manage paging file size for all drives<\/strong>&nbsp;check box is selected. If it is, continue to the next tip. If it's not, select it and then restart your PC by selecting the&nbsp;<strong>Start&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;button &gt;&nbsp;<strong>Power&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;&gt;<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>Restart<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Use your PC and see if it\u2019s running better. If it\u2019s not, try the next tip.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"disable-unnecessary-startup-programs\">\n<h2>Disable unnecessary startup programs<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>When you turn on your PC, some programs start automatically and run in the background. You can disable these programs so they don\u2019t run when your PC starts.<\/p>\n<p>Many programs are designed to start automatically when Windows does. Software manufacturers often set their programs to open in the background\u2014you don\u2019t realize they're running, but they'll open quickly when you go to use them. This is helpful for programs you use a lot, but not for programs you don\u2019t use often because it increases the time it takes Windows to start.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Find the programs that start automatically<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sometimes you can&nbsp;determine which programs start automatically by looking at the program icons in the notification area on the far right of the taskbar. Check there first to see if there are any programs running that you don\u2019t want to start automatically. To try to find out the name of the program, point to the icon with your mouse pointer. Make sure you select<span>&nbsp;<\/span><strong>Show hidden icons<\/strong><span>&nbsp;<\/span><span><\/span>, so you don\u2019t miss any programs.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"image-content\">\n<figure>\n   <a href=\"https:\/\/www.process.st\/templates\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/t1mso5kxIRjy5coakFNDoA.png\" alt=\"Notification area with mouse pointing to show hidden icons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.process.st\/templates\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/t1mso5kxIRjy5coakFNDoA.png\"> <\/a><figcaption>\n     Notification area with mouse pointing to show hidden icons<br \/>\n   <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>Even after you check the notification area, you might still miss some programs that run automatically at startup. Here\u2019s how you can find all the programs that start automatically, and stop the ones that you don\u2019t want to start automatically when Windows starts.<\/p>\n<p><span>To stop a program from starting automatically<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Start&nbsp;<\/strong><span><\/span>&nbsp;button, and then select&nbsp;Settings&nbsp;<span><\/span>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Apps&nbsp;<\/strong><span><\/span>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Startup&nbsp;<\/strong><span><\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>Under&nbsp;<strong>Startup Apps<\/strong>, find the program you want to stop from starting automatically and set it to&nbsp;<strong>Off<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"style-warning\">If you turn off a program and it continues to start automatically when Windows starts, you should scan for viruses and malware, which is explained in the next section.<\/p>\n<p class=\"style-warning\">To use the procedure above to stop a program from starting automatically, you need to have Windows 10 (Version 1803) installed.<span>&nbsp;<\/span><span>To see which version of Windows 10 your device is currently running, select the&nbsp;<\/span><strong>Start<\/strong><span>&nbsp;<\/span><span><\/span><span>&nbsp;button, then select&nbsp;<\/span><strong>Settings<\/strong><span>&nbsp;<\/span><span><\/span><span>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<\/span><strong>System<\/strong><span>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<\/span><strong>About<\/strong><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"style-warning\">If you have Windows 10 (Version 1709 or earlier) installed, press<span>&nbsp;<\/span><strong>Ctrl<\/strong><span>&nbsp;<\/span>+<span>&nbsp;<\/span><strong>Alt<\/strong><span>&nbsp;<\/span>+<span>&nbsp;<\/span><strong>Delete<\/strong>, select<span>&nbsp;<\/span><strong>Task Manager<\/strong>, select<span>&nbsp;<\/span><strong>Startup<\/strong>, select the program you want to stop from starting automatically, and then select<span>&nbsp;<\/span><strong>Disable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"remove-unwanted-ads-popups--malware\">\n<h2>Remove unwanted ads, pop-ups &amp; malware<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>If you're seeing some of these problems with Chrome, you might have unwanted software or malware installed on your computer:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pop-up ads and new tabs that won't go away<\/li>\n<li>Your Chrome homepage or search engine keeps changing without your permission<\/li>\n<li>Unwanted Chrome extensions or toolbars keep coming back<\/li>\n<li>Your browsing is hijacked, and&nbsp;redirects to unfamiliar pages or&nbsp;ads<\/li>\n<li>Alerts about a virus or an infected device<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In the future, avoid unwanted software by only downloading files or visiting sites that you know are secure.<\/p>\n<h4>Remove unwanted programs<\/h4>\n<p>Before you&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/chrome\/answer\/2765944\/#browsersettings\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">reset your browser settings,<\/a>&nbsp;check your computer for unwanted programs.<\/p>\n<p>Chrome can help you find suspicious or unwanted programs on your computer. If Chrome finds an unwanted program,&nbsp;click&nbsp;<strong>Remove<\/strong>. Chrome will remove the software, change some settings to default, and turn off extensions.<\/p>\n<p>You can also check for malware manually.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open Chrome.<\/li>\n<li>At the top right, click More&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>At the bottom, click&nbsp;<strong>Advanced<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Under \u201cReset and clean up,\u201d click&nbsp;<strong>Clean up computer<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click&nbsp;<strong>Find<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If you're asked to remove unwanted software, click&nbsp;<strong>Remove<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Reset your browser settings<\/h4>\n<ol>\n<li>On your computer, open Chrome.<\/li>\n<li>At the top right, click More&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>At the bottom, click&nbsp;<strong>Advanced<\/strong>.\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Windows<\/strong>: Under<strong>&nbsp;\"<\/strong>Reset and cleanup,\u201d click&nbsp;<strong>Reset Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;Reset Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mac or Chromebook<\/strong>:<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>Under \"Reset Settings,\" click&nbsp;<strong>Reset Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Reset<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Linux<\/strong>: Under \u201cReset Settings,\u201d click&nbsp;<strong>Restore settings to their original defaults<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;Reset Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If you removed unwanted programs or reset your browser settings, you might need to turn some extensions back on. To turn extensions&nbsp;on, at the top right, click More&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>More Tools<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Extensions<\/strong>. Only turn on extensions you trust.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Still not working?&nbsp;<\/strong>If the&nbsp;steps above don't work, visit the<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/productforums.google.com\/d\/msg\/chrome\/IkbJXYMH4Ds\/7AzMdLHhixoJ\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chrome Help Forum<\/a>. You can also&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/chrome\/contact\/report_malicious_malware\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">report malicious software<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<h4>More info about malware<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<h5>How to spot malware (video, 2:30)<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"video-content\">\n<div class=\"iframe-container\">\n   <iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nvIXGeB1WgE?modestbranding=1&amp;showinfo=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\"> <\/iframe>\n  <\/div>\n<div class=\"description\">\n    Learn what to look for when you have malware on your computer and how to stay safe online.\n  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<h5><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><a rel=\"nofollow\">How to avoid malware in the future<\/a><\/span><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Watch out for things that look too good to be true. Winning a contest&nbsp;or getting expensive copyrighted content for free is sometimes a trick to get you to download malware.<\/li>\n<li>If you haven't recently run a virus scanner, be wary of&nbsp;warnings about viruses or infected devices. The site might be trying to scare you into downloading unwanted software.<\/li>\n<li>Only download files or visit sites that you know are secure. Learn more about<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/g.co\/healthybrowsing\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">healthy browsing<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If a popup about updating or downloading a program looks suspicious, don't click on it. Instead, go to the program's official website to download it.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<h4>Microsoft:<\/h4>\n<p>A virus, malware, or other malicious software could cause your PC to run slowly. Some other symptoms include unexpected pop-up messages, programs that unexpectedly start automatically, or the sound of your hard disk constantly working.<\/p>\n<p>The best way to handle viruses and malicious software is to try to prevent them by running antimalware and antivirus software and keeping it up to date. Even if you take precautions, your PC can still become infected.<\/p>\n<p>You can scan your PC for viruses or other malicious software by using Windows Defender, which is included in Windows 10. For more info, see&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/help\/17187\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/help\/17187\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Protect your PC<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/help\/17187\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"style-warning\">If you\u2019re using other antivirus or anti-malware software,&nbsp;see the documentation for that program to learn how to scan for viruses. Also, make sure multiple antivirus programs aren\u2019t running at the same time. If they are,&nbsp;choose the one you want to run, and then disable or uninstall any others.<\/p>\n<p class=\"style-warning\">If you have another antivirus program installed and turned on, Windows Defender will be turned off by default.<\/p>\n<p>To scan for viruses using Windows Defender (Windows 10 Version 1803)<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Update &amp; Security<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Windows Security<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; and then select&nbsp;<strong>Open Windows Security<\/strong>.<br \/><a href=\"windowsdefender?activationSource=SMC-Article-4002019\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Open Windows Security settings<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Select&nbsp;<strong>V<\/strong><strong>irus &amp; threat protection<\/strong>,&nbsp;then select&nbsp;<strong>Check for updates<\/strong>&nbsp;under&nbsp;<strong>Virus &amp; threat protection updates<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>On the&nbsp;<strong>Protection updates<\/strong>&nbsp;screen, select&nbsp;<strong>Check for updates<\/strong>&nbsp;to make sure you have the most recent updates.<\/li>\n<li>Select&nbsp;<strong>Virus &amp; threat protection<\/strong>, then select&nbsp;<strong>Quick scan<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Note<\/p>\n<p>If Windows Defender Security Center doesn\u2019t open, can\u2019t update the definition file, or can\u2019t finish scanning for viruses, try running Windows Defender in Offline Mode, which is explained below in&nbsp;<strong>To scan for malware and viruses with Windows Defender Offline (Windows 10 Version 1803)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>To see which version of Windows 10 your device is currently running, select the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button, then select&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>System<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>About<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>To scan for viruses using Windows Defender (Windows 10 Version 1709)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button &gt;&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Update &amp; security<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Windows Defender<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Open Windows Defender Security Center<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Select&nbsp;<strong>Virus &amp; threat protection<\/strong>, then select&nbsp;<strong>Protection updates<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Check for updates<\/strong>&nbsp;to make sure you have the latest definition file.<\/li>\n<li>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Virus &amp; threat protection<\/strong>&nbsp;tab and select&nbsp;<strong>Quick scan<\/strong>, then wait for Windows Defender Security Center to finish scanning for viruses and malware.<\/li>\n<li>Do one of the following, depending on the results of the scan:\n<ul>\n<li>Run the recommended advanced scan. This scan takes longer but searches more extensively for threats on your PC.<\/li>\n<li>If Windows Defender Security Center finds a virus or malware and can\u2019t remove or quarantine it,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/contactus\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">contact Microsoft Support<\/a>&nbsp;for help.<\/li>\n<li>If no viruses are found, restart your PC and try to reproduce the performance problem you were having with your PC.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"style-warning\">If Windows Defender Security Center doesn\u2019t open, can\u2019t update the definition file, or can\u2019t finish scanning for viruses, try running Windows Defender in Offline Mode, which is explained below in&nbsp;<strong>To scan for malware and viruses with Windows Defender Offline (Windows 10 Version 1709)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"style-warning\">To see which version of Windows 10 your device is currently running, select the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button, then select&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>System<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>About<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>To scan for malware and viruses with Windows Defender Offline (Windows 10 Version 1803)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Save any documents or anything else you might have open on your PC.<\/li>\n<li>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button &gt;&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Update &amp; security<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Windows Security<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Open Windows Defender Security Center<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Select&nbsp;<strong>Virus &amp; threat protection<\/strong>, then select&nbsp;<strong>Run a new advanced scan<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Windows Defender Offline scan<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Scan now<\/strong>.\n<p>Your PC will restart, and Windows Defender Offline will run and scan for viruses and malware. The scan might take 15 minutes or so, and your PC will restart again after that.<\/li>\n<li>Try to reproduce the performance issue.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If your PC still runs slow, continue to the next tip.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To scan for malware and viruses with Windows Defender Offline (Windows 10 Version 1709)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Save any documents or anything else you might have open on your PC.<\/li>\n<li>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button &gt;&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Update &amp; security<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Windows Defender<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Open Windows Defender Security Center<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Select&nbsp;<strong>Virus &amp; threat protection<\/strong>, then select&nbsp;<strong>Advanced scan<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Windows Defender Offline scan<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Scan now<\/strong>.\n<p>Your PC will restart, and Windows Defender Offline will run and scan for viruses and malware. The scan might take 15 minutes or so, and your PC will restart again after that.<\/li>\n<li>Try to reproduce the performance issue.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If your PC still runs slow, continue to the next tip.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<h4>Run malware scans<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"multi-select-content form-field-content\">\n<ul class=\"items\">\n<li class=\"item\">\n<div class=\"step-number-container\">\n<div class=\"step-number\">\n       1\n     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"step-checkbox-container\">\n<div class=\"step-checkbox\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"item-name-static\">\n      Malwarebytes Anti-Malware\n    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"item\">\n<div class=\"step-number-container\">\n<div class=\"step-number\">\n       2\n     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"step-checkbox-container\">\n<div class=\"step-checkbox\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"item-name-static\">\n      If possible, run offline (otherwise, online) scan with one of these trusted malware scanners: Microsoft Defender, Bitdefender Internet Security, Kaspersky Internet Security or Norton Security\n    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"item\">\n<div class=\"step-number-container\">\n<div class=\"step-number\">\n       3\n     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"step-checkbox-container\">\n<div class=\"step-checkbox\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"item-name-static\">\n      Google Chrome\n    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"check-for-corrupted-windows-system-files\">\n<h2>Check for corrupted Windows system files<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>The Deployment Image Service and Management Tool (DISM) is a utility&nbsp; that scans for corrupted Windows system files. If it finds a problem, it will try to replace the problematic system files from a cached version that\u2019s on your PC. If DISM can\u2019t replace the files, the System File Checker (SFC) can check the corrupted files then download and replace the files through Windows Update.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To use the Deployment Image Service and Management Tool (DISM)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>In the search box on the taskbar, type&nbsp;<strong>powershell<\/strong>, press and hold (or right-click)&nbsp;<strong>Windows PowerShell<\/strong>, and then select&nbsp;<strong>Run as administrator<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Yes<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>At the prompt, type&nbsp;<strong>dism.exe \/Online \/Cleanup-image \/Restorehealth<\/strong>&nbsp;(note the space between \"dism.exe\" and \"\/\" and each switch (\/)).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>If DISM finds corrupted files and replaces them, restart your PC and see that improves performance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"style-warning\">You must&nbsp;be connected to the Internet to use DISM, and it might take several minutes to finish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"style-warning\">For more info about DISM, see<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/help\/947821\" rel=\"nofollow\">Fix Windows Update errors by using the DISM or System Update Readiness tool<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To run System File Checker (SFC)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>In the search box on the taskbar, type&nbsp;<strong>powershell<\/strong>, press and hold (or right-click)&nbsp;<strong>Windows PowerShell<\/strong>, then select&nbsp;<strong>Run as administrator<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Yes<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>At the prompt, type&nbsp;<strong>sfc \/scannow<\/strong>&nbsp;(note the space between \"sfc\" and the \"\/\").<\/span><br \/><span>Scanning will take a few minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Do one of the following, depending on the results of the scan:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span>If SFC finds corrupted files and replaces them, restart your PC and see if that improves your PC\u2019s performance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>If SFC doesn\u2019t find corrupted files or finds corrupted files but can\u2019t replace them, try using the Deployment Image Service and Management Tool (DISM).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>For more info about System File Checker, see<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/help\/929833\" rel=\"nofollow\">Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"adjust-the-appearance-and-performance-of-windows\">\n<h2>Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>Windows 10 includes many visual effects, such as animations and shadow effects. These look great, but they can also use additional system resources and can slow down your PC\u2014this is especially true if you have a PC with a smaller amount of memory (RAM).<\/p>\n<p><span>To adjust the visual effects in Windows<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>In the search box on the taskbar, type&nbsp;<strong>performance<\/strong>, then select&nbsp;<strong>Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>On the&nbsp;<strong>Visual Effects<\/strong>&nbsp;tab, select&nbsp;<strong>Adjust for best performance<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Apply<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Restart your PC and see if that speeds up your PC.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If your PC still runs slow, continue to the next tip.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"adjust-or-turn-off-onedrive-sync\">\n<h2>Adjust or turn off OneDrive sync<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>Your PC settings let you choose where files will be saved by default. You can save files on your PC or to OneDrive by default and sync files between the two locations. This lets you get to your files from any device that can connect to the internet, and it helps make sure your files are backed up in case your PC is ever damaged or lost. However, files&nbsp;must sync between your PC and OneDrive, and syncing can slow down your PC.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To stop syncing to OneDrive<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>On the taskbar, select&nbsp;<strong>File Explorer<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Press and hold (or right-click)&nbsp;<strong>OneDrive - Personal<\/strong>, and then select&nbsp;<strong>Choose OneDrive folders to sync<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Clear the&nbsp;<strong>Sync all files and folders in OneDrive<\/strong>&nbsp;check box, then select&nbsp;<strong>OK<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Restart your PC and see if that improves things.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If this fixes the performance problem with your PC, check out<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.office.com\/article\/Fix-OneDrive-sync-problems-83ab0d8a-8400-45b0-8dcf-dc8aa8a6bcf8\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Fix OneDrive sync problems<\/a>&nbsp;to learn how to turn syncing back on and keep your files synced.<\/p>\n<p>If your PC still runs slow, turn syncing back on for OneDrive by selecting the<span>&nbsp;<\/span><strong>Sync all files and folders in OneDrive<\/strong><span>&nbsp;<\/span>check box again, and then continue to the next tip.<\/p>\n<p class=\"style-warning\">If you have the Window 10 Fall Creators Update, you can use OneDrive Files On-Demand to choose which files you want to sync and always keep on your PC. This can help improve PC performance if you reduce the number of files that are synced to your PC.<\/p>\n<p class=\"style-warning\"><span>For more info on OneDrive Files On-Demand, see&nbsp;<\/span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.office.com\/article\/0E6860D3-D9F3-4971-B321-7092438FB38E\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Learn about OneDrive Files On-Demand<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"reset-your-pc\">\n<h2>Reset your PC<\/h2>\n<div class=\"text-content\">\n<p>When you reset your PC, you can choose whether you want to keep your personal files or remove them, then have Windows reinstalled. Resetting your PC should be one of the last things you should try.<\/p>\n<p>Do one of the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>If you want to keep your files, follow the steps in&nbsp;<strong>To back up your data<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>If you want to remove your files and not back them up,&nbsp;follow the steps in&nbsp;<strong>To reset your PC<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>To back up your data<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button &gt;&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Update &amp; security<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Backup<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Add a drive<\/strong>, and then choose an external drive or network location to back up your files to.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>On the&nbsp;<strong>Backup<\/strong>&nbsp;screen, select&nbsp;<strong>More options<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Back up now<\/strong>.<\/span><br \/><span>This backs up all the files in your Users folders\u2014including Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Favorites, Music, Pictures, and more.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"style-warning\">The backup&nbsp;might take several minutes&nbsp;to finish. Your external drive or network location must have enough free space for all the files that you want to back up.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To reset your PC<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>Go to&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Update &amp; security<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Recovery<\/strong>&nbsp;.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Under&nbsp;<strong>Reset this PC<\/strong>, select&nbsp;<strong>Get started<\/strong>.<\/span><br \/><span>For more info about resetting your PC, see&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/help\/12415\" rel=\"nofollow\">Windows 10 recovery options<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>To restore your data<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After you reset your PC, here\u2019s how to restore your data from your backup. When you do this, all the personal files you backed up will be put back on your PC.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>Select the&nbsp;<strong>Start<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;button &gt;&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Update &amp; security<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Backup<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Add a drive<\/strong>, and then choose the external drive or network location that you backed up your files to.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>On the Backup screen, select&nbsp;<strong>More options<\/strong>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;<strong>Restore files from a current backup<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>When the external hard drive or network location that you backed up to is available, select the green circle at the bottom to start restoring your files and folders.<\/span><br \/><span>It might take several minutes for Windows to restore your files.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Record the client's details Skip this task if troubleshooting your own PC. This task is for tracking a customer's details as received via Zendesk.&nbsp; This process is based on the Microsoft help article&nbsp;Tips to improve PC Performance. 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