How to Speed Up Your Devices: 4 Simple Steps
Like most computer users, you probably have one or more slow or unresponsive devices. These devices might be old, have too much software installed and insufficient RAM, or aren’t set up to operate at peak performance. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to speed up slow devices. Below we explore three simple steps you can take to boost the speed of any computer or other device.
Remove duplicate files
Many people don’t realize this, but duplicate files can build up on your computer over time. This happens on the computer’s hard drive and in your cloud storage accounts. If you don’t get rid of these duplicate files, they will slow your computer down. Luckily, there are apps for that. Once you’ve selected a file scanning software or app, follow the instructions to scan your device. This process will take a few minutes, but once it’s done, you will have a list of all duplicate files on your computer.
Uninstall Unnecessary Software
Over time, you may install software that you don’t need. This is especially common if you work in IT or have a technical background. While keeping all this software around might be tempting, it’s slowing your computer down. This is because every program you have installed uses memory and processing power. If you have software you don’t use, uninstalling it’s a good idea. You can do this from the Control Panel. Once there, select Programs and Features. From there, you can select each program and choose Uninstall. Alternatively, you can sort programs by size to quickly identify those you don’t use.
Defragment Your Hard Drive
A fragmented hard drive is a common cause of slow computers. When you save files, you break them down into smaller segments called “blocks”. If a file is saved in the first block of your hard drive, it will take less time to open than if it were saved in the last block. This is because the computer must go through all the other blocks in between to get to the file. This problem worsens over time, as files are saved and removed multiple times. Eventually, the blocks become so disjointed that it takes longer for the computer to read data from the drive. This can cause the computer to become slower and lead to data loss. To fix this, you can use a program like Defraggler. Simply follow the instructions to defragment your hard drive.
Check for updates
Finally, you should check for updates on your devices as often as possible. This includes everything from your computer’s operating system to your web browser. You can avoid many common cyber threats by keeping your software up to date. Additionally, updating software can help to improve performance. This is because new versions of software often include performance improvements. You can check for updates on your computer by going to Help and selecting Check for Updates. Alternatively, you can select Windows Update from the Control Panel. You can check for updates from the device’s settings menu on your phone or tablet.
Conclusion
A slow computer or device can be a real pain. Fortunately, you can do some simple things to speed up any device. First, remove duplicate files from your computer and cloud storage accounts. Next, uninstall unnecessary software and defragment your hard drive. Finally, check for updates on all your devices to ensure they are running at full speed.
