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The most useful Windows changes depend on the problem you are trying to solve. To reduce boot delays, review startup apps; to address low disk space, use Storage Sense; to limit personalization, turn off the Windows advertising ID; and to quiet interruptions, configure notifications and Focus. None is a guaranteed speed boost, and an older processor, insufficient memory, failing drive, malware, or other hardware limit can outweigh every setting change.
This guide is written for Windows 11. Microsoft also documents many of these controls for Windows 10, but Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Check Settings > System > About (or search Settings for a feature name) before following a path: labels and availability vary by build, device, app, and organization policy.
Before changing settings: identify the bottleneck
Windows slowdown has several possible causes. Microsoft’s performance guidance points to low available storage, too many startup applications, background activity, outdated Windows or app software, malware, and aging hardware. A setting is a troubleshooting step, not a promise that the computer will become faster.
- Install pending Windows and driver updates through Settings > Windows Update, then restart. Updates can fix bugs and compatibility problems.
- Check free space in Settings > System > Storage. Very little free space can affect normal operation and can prevent updates from installing.
- Inspect resource use with Task Manager (
Ctrl+Shift+Esc). On the Processes tab, sort by CPU, Memory, or Disk to identify an application that is actually consuming resources. - Close unused applications and restart. A restart clears some temporary states that persist through sleep.
- Scan for malware when unexplained CPU, disk, pop-ups, or account activity make it plausible.
If the same resource remains saturated after these checks, or the machine is old and routinely short on memory or storage, settings may produce little improvement. Microsoft explicitly cautions that older PCs with outdated hardware may not see significant improvements from these steps. Diagnose first rather than buying a drive or memory kit that may be incompatible or may not address the cause.
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Reduce boot time with startup-app controls
Programs that launch at sign-in compete for CPU, memory, and disk activity before you are ready to work. Windows 11 provides two ways to manage them.
Use Settings
- Open Settings > Apps > Startup.
- Review the list and switch off launchers, update helpers, or other programs you do not need immediately after signing in.
- Restart and check whether sign-in is more responsive. Re-enable an item if a function you depend on stops working.
Use Task Manager for impact information
- Open Task Manager with
Ctrl+Shift+Esc. - Select Startup apps.
- Use the listed startup-impact information to prioritize candidates, then right-click an unnecessary entry and choose Disable.
Disable entries individually, not indiscriminately. Keep security software, hardware utilities, accessibility tools, and synchronization services you rely on. Disabling an entry prevents automatic launch; it does not uninstall the application, so you can still open it normally.
Limit background activity without breaking needed updates
Supported Microsoft Store-style apps can be prevented from running in the background. This can reduce background CPU, memory, network, and battery use, but the tradeoff is functional: an app set to Never will not provide background notifications or updates.
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- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Select the app’s three-dot menu, then choose Advanced options when that option is available.
- Under background permissions (the label can vary), choose the setting that limits or prevents background activity. Never blocks background operation for that app.
Use this for apps whose live updates you do not need. Do not apply it to a calendar, messaging, security, or other app when delayed alerts would matter. Many traditional desktop programs are not governed by this Windows per-app control; check the program’s own settings instead. A work-managed PC may also enforce or hide the choice.
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Free space safely with Storage Sense and temporary-file cleanup
Low disk space can make Windows feel sluggish and can stop updates or upgrades. Storage Sense automates removal of selected temporary data, but you should review the categories before confirming a one-time cleanup or changing an automatic rule.
Run a review before cleanup
- Go to Settings > System > Storage.
- Open Temporary files to see the categories and their sizes.
- Read each category carefully. Leave personal files or downloaded items selected only if you are certain they are no longer needed.
- Choose Remove files after checking the selection.
Configure Storage Sense
- In Settings > System > Storage, open Storage Sense.
- Turn it on and select when Windows should run it.
- Set rules for temporary files and the Recycle Bin according to your retention needs. Avoid an automatic Downloads-folder cleanup unless you have another copy of anything important.
Storage Sense creates free space; it does not repair a failing drive or increase physical capacity. If free space keeps disappearing, inspect large files and applications and investigate cloud-sync or backup behavior rather than repeatedly deleting random files.
Adjust visual effects only when responsiveness matters more than polish
Animations, transparency, and other visual effects use some system resources. Microsoft documents an Adjust for best performance option, but it removes visual polish and is not the first change to make on a modern, healthy PC.
- Search Settings for Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.
- Open the matching performance-options dialog.
- On Visual Effects, choose Adjust for best performance, or manually clear only effects that bother you.
- Select Apply, test normal work, and restore individual effects if the plainer appearance is distracting.
On a low-powered or memory-constrained machine, reducing effects may make windows feel more immediate. It will not compensate for a nearly full drive, a failing component, or an application that is consuming all available resources.
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Choose a power mode that matches the situation
Windows 11’s power-mode control can favor efficiency or maximum performance. Use the performance setting when sustained speed is important and the computer is plugged in; it increases energy use, can shorten laptop battery life, and may make the device warmer.
- Open Settings > System > Power & battery.
- Find Power mode.
- Select Best performance for demanding work while connected to power, then return to a balanced or efficiency-oriented mode for battery use.
Power mode cannot create performance that the processor, cooling system, or memory does not have. Treat it as a situational choice, not a permanent default for every laptop.
Improve privacy: understand what each switch actually controls
Turn off the Windows advertising ID when you do not want that identifier used
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > General.
- Turn off the option that allows apps to show personalized ads by using the advertising ID.
This limits apps’ use of the Windows advertising identifier. It does not disable every form of interest-based advertising: websites can still use cookies and other tracking methods, and Microsoft or third-party apps may have separate advertising controls. Windows 11 builds may also expose related personalization choices under Recommendations & offers; review those controls if they appear on your device.
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Windows app diagnostics controls whether supported apps may obtain specific information about other running processes. Search Settings for App diagnostics and turn access off for apps that have no reason to inspect process information. The Microsoft-documented control does not affect traditional desktop apps, which may have their own privacy settings. On a managed computer, an organization can control or remove this option.
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Do not blanket-disable diagnostics or background features without considering what you lose. Some support, synchronization, accessibility, or troubleshooting functions depend on them.
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Trim notifications by app
- Open Settings > System > Notifications.
- Turn off notifications for apps that are nonessential, or open an app’s entry to disable banners, sounds, lock-screen alerts, or other individual behaviors.
- Keep alerts you rely on, such as security warnings, two-factor authentication prompts, calendar reminders, or urgent work messages.
Fewer notifications reduce interruptions and visual clutter. They are not a guaranteed measurable performance improvement; Microsoft characterizes any resource benefit from notification changes as small.
Use Focus for protected work periods
- Open Settings > System > Focus, or start a session from the clock and notification area.
- Choose a duration or schedule.
- Decide whether to show the timer, hide notification badges, and allow alarms or priority notifications.
Focus is preferable to permanently silencing everything because it creates a defined period and can preserve priority alerts. Check its schedule if notifications remain suppressed after the session ends.
Simplify the desktop’s appearance
In Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects, turn off animation effects or transparency if motion and visual changes distract you. You can also use a plain desktop background through Settings > Personalization > Background. These choices improve visual clarity; any performance benefit is secondary and hardware-dependent.
Which settings should you change first?
| Problem or goal | First setting to inspect | Possible functional cost | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow sign-in | Startup apps in Settings or Task Manager | A needed service may no longer start automatically | Disable only nonessential entries; Task Manager impact is an operational clue, not a universal speed measurement |
| High background activity | Per-app background permissions | No background notifications or updates when set to Never | Many desktop apps use their own controls |
| Low disk space | Storage Sense and Temporary files | Selected temporary or recycled files are removed | Review categories; cleanup does not fix failing hardware |
| Visual sluggishness on weak hardware | Visual Effects options | Less animation, transparency, and visual polish | Results vary; this is optional, not a universal optimization |
| Maximum plugged-in performance | Power mode: Best performance | Higher energy use, heat, and battery drain | Most useful when connected to power |
| Less ad personalization | Advertising ID and Recommendations & offers controls | Ads may be less tailored; advertising does not disappear | Website cookies and third-party practices are separate |
| Fewer interruptions | App notifications and Focus | Missed or delayed alerts if configured too aggressively | Keep security and time-sensitive alerts |
A safe order for a real-world tune-up
- Confirm that you are running a supported Windows version and install pending updates.
- Check storage and free space before changing appearance or power behavior.
- Use Task Manager to identify startup and resource-heavy applications.
- Restrict background activity only for apps whose alerts and updates you can safely forgo.
- Configure notifications and Focus to protect attention while preserving priority alerts.
- Try visual-effect changes or Best performance power mode only when the situation justifies their tradeoffs.
- Restart, test the tasks that felt slow, and undo a change that removes needed functionality.
If the computer remains slow after this sequence, record which component is saturated and when it happens. Persistent disk errors, insufficient memory, thermal throttling, malware, or aging hardware require a targeted diagnosis; no Windows toggle can guarantee a hardware-level fix.
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