How to Clean and Speed Up Your Laptop

How to speed up your laptop

Knowing how to speed up your laptop is extremely helpful and often doesn’t require much time. Consider the following strategies.

1. Limit startup tasks and programs.

Many programs open automatically when you switch on your laptop, delaying your work. Additionally, numerous programs operating in the background can drain your laptop’s central processing unit (CPU) usage and slow its startup times. This slowdown makes launching other applications more difficult, causing system-wide lag. 

The solution is to limit the programs and tasks that begin upon startup. “Limiting startup programs … can significantly speed up older laptops, especially during startup,” noted John Dietrich, Global Head of New Product Introductions for Commercial Systems at HP. “Most users will find that over time they build up quite a catalog of applications that are set to launch at startup, even though they might be things that they rarely, if ever, use.”

The uninstall process differs by operating system.

How to limit startup tasks and programs for Windows 10 

1. Open Task Manager.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Apps.
4. Click the Startup

If the Startup tab is not visible in your settings, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Select Task Manager.
3. Click Startup. (It may be located under More Details, so look there if you can’t find it.)

Under the Startup tab, you’ll see a list of programs ranked by startup impact. You can enable or disable programs based on whether they are necessary to run at startup. You can also sort the list by impact level, application name or status to better understand the programs affecting your laptop’s performance.

How to limit startup tasks and programs for Windows 11 

1. Click the Start menu and select Settings (the gear icon).
2. Click Apps in the left sidebar.
3. Click Startup on the right side.
4. Turn on or off any app you see in the list by clicking the toggle switch next to it.

Alternatively, you can follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select Task Manager or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch it.
2. Click the Startup tab.
3. Right-click on any app and select Disable or Enable.

How to limit startup tasks and programs for macOS

If you use macOS, specifically macOS 15 Sequoia, follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple menu
2. Go to System Preferences.
3. Under General, go to Login Items and Extensions.

You’ll see a list of all the programs that run when you turn on your laptop, as well as three tasks you can execute:

• Add a Login Item
• Remove a Login Item
• Hide a Login Item

To improve your laptop’s performance by removing a login item, follow these steps:

1. Click the application you want to stop launching on startup (to highlight it). 
2. Click the minus (-) symbol on the bottom center of the window.

If an application or program that used to be on your laptop appears, click the empty box that says Hide and it will remove it from your Login Item list. Note, however, that this disables only apps and not launch agents and daemons. For those, you need to use the terminal or a third-party app, such as AppCleaner & Uninstaller.

2. Uninstall unused apps.

Over time, we download many programs and apps onto our laptops, but we end up using only a handful regularly. Your computer probably also came with preinstalled apps that you never open. Remove these unused apps to free up space and provide a quick speed boost.

“While unused apps don’t always run actively, they can still occupy valuable storage space, register background services or scheduled tasks that consume resources and lead to software conflicts or clutter the system registry (on Windows),” Dietrich explained.

How to uninstall unused apps in Windows 10

On Windows 10, removing unused apps is as easy as selecting Uninstall a Program in the Control Panel. 

Here is the most common approach:

1. Click the Start menu and select Settings (the gear icon).
2. Click Apps on the right side of the list.
3. Click Apps and Features. You’ll see a complete program list.
4. Sort items as you prefer (by name, size, installation date or drive location).
5. Decide which items to remove.
6. Click an item to highlight it and select Uninstall. 

Here’s another approach: 

1. Type “control panel” into the search bar. 
2. Click Control Panel when it appears. A new window will open. 
3. Under Programs, click Uninstall a Program. You’ll see a program list.
4. Right-click on a program you want to uninstall and select Uninstall. 
5. Click Yes in the dialog box to confirm the change.
6. Click Yes again to finish the process. 

Both methods take about two minutes, depending on how many applications you remove. Some programs may include additional dialog boxes; be sure to read all information before proceeding.

How to uninstall unused apps in Windows 11

The process is different in Windows 11

1. Click the Start menu
2. Click All Apps in the top-right corner of the menu underneath the search bar.
3. Scroll through the list of icons and right-click the one you want to delete.
4. If the app came from the Microsoft Store, click Uninstall.
5. If it’s a program, click Uninstall and the Control Panel will open. 
6. Scroll through Programs and Features to locate the program you want to remove. 
7. Click to highlight the program and select Uninstall (next to Organize).

Alternatively, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Start menu
2. Select Settings. 
3. Click Apps & Features.
4. Locate the app you want to delete and select More (three dots).
5. Select Uninstall. If you’re deleting a program rather than a Microsoft Store app, click Yes on the confirmation window.

How to uninstall unused programs on a Mac

Uninstalling programs on macOS is straightforward and quicker than on Windows and typically takes only seconds. Follow these steps:

1. Locate the program you want to uninstall in Finder or your Applications
2. Drag the program to the Trash icon on your desktop or Control-click the app and select Move to Trash.
3. If prompted, enter your username and password to confirm the program’s removal.
4. Empty your Trash to permanently delete the app and free up space.

Some application-related files may not be deleted when uninstalling programs manually. However, third-party tools like AppDelete can help. If you drag the unwanted app into AppDelete, it will automatically scan your hard drive for all associated folders and files. You can then remove everything or select individual files to delete within the application.

3. Use disk cleanup tools.

Windows PCs and Macs have built-in disk cleanup functions that can help your laptop run faster.

“For SSDs [solid-state drives], traditional defragmentation is not needed, but these utilities can still clear temporary files or optimize storage,” Dietrich explained. “Additionally, ensuring the SSD’s firmware is up to date and enabling TRIM (automatic in most modern OS setups) helps maintain performance by ensuring that unused drive space can be reclaimed.”

How to run a disk cleanup in Windows 10

The Disk Cleanup utility is a Windows tool that assesses and removes unnecessary programs and files from your computer. It’s an excellent way to eliminate extraneous files you might not have known existed, helping your laptop operate faster.

This process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of hours, depending on the number of files stored on your hard drive and how often you clean it. Regardless of how long it takes, this process will improve your laptop’s performance in the long run.

Follow these steps to run a disk cleanup scan in Windows 10:

1. Type “disk cleanup” in the search bar on the Taskbar and select Disk Cleanup from the search results.
2. Select the drive you want to clean from the drop-down menu, such as C: drive, and click OK.
3. The utility will scan your laptop and display a list of file types you can remove, such as Recycle Bin and Temporary Files, and how much space they occupy.
4. Check the boxes to the left of the file types you want to delete and click OK. 
5. Click Clean Up System Files to perform an advanced scan. You may need to reselect the drive and click OK
6. After the advanced scan is complete, review the new file categories listed. Check the boxes for files you want to delete.
7. Click OK. Select Delete Files to confirm you want to permanently remove the selected items.

How to run a disk cleanup in Windows 11

There are two methods to run a Disk Cleanup in Windows 11:

Using File Explorer

1. Press the Windows + E keys simultaneously to launch File Explorer.
2. Select C: from the left frame (you might have to scroll down a bit if you have a lot of pinned folders).
3. Right-click on C: and select Properties.
4. A pop-up box will appear. Select the General
5. Click Disk Cleanup. You’ll be able to choose which files to delete from the displayed options.

Using the Run command:

1. Press the Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run
2. Enter the appropriate command:

• Type “cleanmgr /VERYLOWDISK” for a thorough cleanup.
• Type “cleanmgr /LOWDISK” for a less-intensive cleanup.
• Type “cleanmgr /sageset:1” to customize which files you want to clean.

3. Press Enter to begin the cleanup process.

How to run a disk cleanup on a Mac 

Macs have built-in tools to help you assess and manage your device’s storage efficiently. Follow these steps to get started (these instructions apply to Macs running macOS Ventura and later):

To check your storage:

1. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Settings.
3. In the System tab (default view), click Storage.
4. View the storage bar to see how much space is left on your hard drive, as well as details about its usage.

To free up storage:

In the Storage window, review personalized recommendations, such as:

• Review files: Identify and remove large or unnecessary files.
• Optimize storage: Remove iTunes movies and TV shows you’ve already watched automatically.
• Move files to iCloud: Free up local storage by moving items to iCloud.
• Empty trash automatically: Set your Mac to delete items from the Trash after 30 days automatically.

To delete individual files manually:

• Locate the file you want to delete.
• Right-click the item and select Move to Trash.
• Empty your Trash to permanently delete the files and free up space.

Mac users can also download free or paid applications that perform automatic disk cleanups. However, it may be more feasible in the long run to spend a few minutes every couple of weeks manually deleting applications and files that are taking up space.

4. Clear your internet cache.

Hidden and unnecessary items can take up space in your internet cache and slow down your laptop. Clearing them regularly can free up significant storage and speed up your device noticeably. 

How to clear internet cache on most browsers

In most browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge, clearing temporary files is straightforward. While the process and terminology may vary slightly by browser, you’ll take the following actions: 

1. Open Settings or Preferences (depending on the browser).
2. Look for options like Clear History, Clear Data or Clear Cache
3. Follow the prompts to delete this data. 

How to clear internet cache on Safari for Mac

The process is slightly different for Safari users. (Note that Apple already deletes all cookie caches after you visit a website.)

1. Open Safari and select Safari > Preferences.
2. Select the Privacy Once there, you can choose options to:
   1. Prevent cross-site tracking: Blocks trackers from collecting data across multiple websites.
   2. Block all cookies: Stops websites from saving cookies altogether.
   3. Manage website data: View an itemized list of stored data. You can delete data individually or remove it all at once.

Other options for clearing your cache

Users have various other options for clearing their cache. 

Use a third-party utility. 

Numerous third-party applications, including CCleaner, can clear your internet cache. You’ll download and install these applications. Ensure you use a trusted application only.

Use Disk Cleanup to clear a Windows cache. 

The Disk Cleanup utility provides an easy way to clear your Windows cache. 

In Windows 10 or 11: 

1. Select the Disk Cleanup app from the Start menu. 
2. Choose the drive you want to clean.
3. Select OK. 
4. To free up more space, select Clean up system files.

Clear a Windows cache manually. 

To clear your cache manually in Windows 10, take these steps: 

1. Launch Settings.
2. Select System > Storage.
3. On the right, click Configure Storage Sense or run it now.
4. Scroll down and ensure the box next to Delete temporary files that my apps aren’t using is checked.
5. Click Clean now.

To clear your cache manually in Windows 11, take these steps:

1. Launch Settings. 
2. Select System > Storage.
3. Scroll down and click Storage Sense.
4. Toggle Automatic User content cleanup to On.
5. Scroll to the bottom and click Run Storage Sense now.

Clear cache files in macOS. 

Here’s how to delete cache files in macOS Ventura or later:

Delete cache files in the user library:

1. Click Go in the menu bar.
2. Choose Go to Folder.
3. Type ~/Library into the prompt box
4. Press Return.
5. Select the Caches
6. Press Command + A to select all files and then drag them to the Trash.

Delete system-level cache files:

1. Open Finder and click Macintosh HD (or the name you assigned). If you don’t see Macintosh HD, go to Finder Settings and ensure Hard Disk is checked under Devices.
2. Navigate to the Library
3. Open the Caches
4. Delete the files in this folder as needed.

Important: Note that you must enter your administrator password to delete any file with a red label on it. Only delete files you recognize. Avoid removing files if you’re unsure about their purpose, as some cache files are essential for the proper functioning of your system or apps. 

How to improve computer performance

Some additional actions and best practices can also help improve your laptop’s performance. 

1. Add a solid-state drive (SSD).

An SSD is different from a traditional hard drive because it stores data in memory chips and doesn’t rely on mechanical components. SSDs are a great way to immediately boost your computer’s speed and performance. They’re also relatively inexpensive. While prices vary by brand and model, you can find a 256GB SSD for around $15 to $50. Before purchasing an SSD, confirm that your laptop is compatible with this type of upgrade.

SSDs require installation, so if you’re unfamiliar with the intricacies of laptop design, it may be better to pay someone to install it for you. 

“Replacing an HDD [hard disk drive] with an SSD provides a massive performance boost, especially for boot and load times,” Dietrich explained. “This is probably the single most impactful upgrade you can make on an older PC.”

2. Upgrade the RAM.

Random access memory (RAM) is a form of memory storage that allows laptops to run programs, feature games and store other large files temporarily. Adding RAM and, therefore, more memory, can help speed up a computer with many large files. For more intensive functions, like video editing, consider choosing 32GB of RAM. 

Generally, 8GB to 16GB is the minimum recommended amount of RAM for a computer, but not all laptops are upgradable. Adding RAM also requires installation and many newer laptops may come with RAM soldered directly to the motherboard, meaning it can’t be adjusted.

Dietrich cautioned users to ensure they are adding RAM of the same speed and type as the existing RAM before purchasing any.

3. Reinstall your operating system.

Windows offers the option to reinstall an operating system without losing all your files. Reinstalling Windows is like hitting the reset button on your computer — by removing and reinstalling the OS, only your essential files will remain. Here’s how to do this:

1. Go to the Settings
2. Click the Update & Security tab.
3. Navigate to the Recovery
4. Select Reset this PC.

In addition to resetting your computer and keeping your files, you can back up your files onto an external hard drive, create a bootable USB drive with Windows installation media, reinstall Windows from the USB drive and then restore your information onto the laptop.

On a Mac, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer. 
2. Press Command + R to open the macOS Recovery window. 
3. Select Reinstall macOS > Continue. 
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall the OS without erasing your files.

Important note: While Microsoft and Apple promise you won’t lose your files during this process, you should back up all important data before proceeding because issues can arise.

4. Check for malware.

Malware, including ransomware, can be a major performance drain on devices. It can significantly affect the speed of a device, using up system resources and generally slowing everything down. 

Dietrich emphasized the importance of consistent malware scans. “Regular malware scans can eliminate harmful programs that drain resources — and it’s a good security best practice to run anti-malware protection at all times,” Dietrich advised.

5. Check the laptop’s thermal management.

Thermal management issues can significantly slow laptop performance. Dirty fans, heat sinks and thermal piping can become clogged with dust or pet hair, reducing the laptop’s ability to cool itself. When this happens, the device is forced to run slower to prevent overheating.

“If you are able to (and allowed to), open the laptop to access the fans and heat sinks and ensure that they are clean and free of dust,” Dietrich advised. “You can use a small vacuum to carefully remove dust but never allow the vacuum suction to spin a cooling fan. Always hold the vanes of the fan so that the suction will not turn the fan. A vacuum will spin a fan far faster than its design speed and can wear out the bearings in a matter of seconds.”

What causes laptops to slow? 

Dietrich noted that while simple age may be a contributing factor, several additional issues can affect laptop performance: 

• Software bloat: Multiple applications can contribute to sluggish performance. “Over time, users install more applications, some of which may run background processes, consume memory or use processing power unnecessarily,” Dietrich explained. 
• Startup overload: Too many programs launching at startup increases boot times and consumes resources immediately. This can make an originally quick booting machine take minutes to fully launch everything required. 
• Fragmented drives: While SSDs aren’t affected by data fragmentation, it’s a problem for older spinning hard drives. 
• Thermal throttling: Dust accumulation in cooling fans and heatsinks can cause overheating, forcing the CPU to throttle its performance to avoid damage. 
• Outdated drivers or firmware: Inefficiencies can arise from inconsistent drive or system firmware updates. 
• Possible malware infections: Malware can take a toll on device performance. “Users should be sure to consistently run malware protection and scan for viruses regularly,” Dietrich advised.

Regular maintenance prolongs the lifetime of your laptop

Your computer accumulates numerous files and data over time. It’s crucial to service your laptop regularly so it maintains its speed and processing power as it ages. Preventive measures, such as installing an SSD or reinstalling your operating system, can help you avoid costly fixes.

Prolonging your laptop’s performance is like taking care of a car: If you don’t consistently service it and ensure it’s running properly, it will break down — or, in the case of a laptop, slow down. Avoid that scenario with the tips outlined above.

Jeremy Bender and Mark Fairlie contributed to this article.