Optimizing Your Windows PC for Peak Performance

A fresh Windows installation starts lean and fast. The minimal number of running services and programs translates to swift response times and low resource consumption. However, this ideal state rarely lasts. Over time, as you install more software, the system’s performance inevitably degrades. This slowdown is primarily caused by programs and services that launch automatically upon Windows startup, extending boot times and increasing the delay before the desktop becomes responsive.

The severity of these performance drops depends largely on your computer’s overall capabilities and the speed of its storage device, be it a traditional hard drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD). Generally, a program that’s installed but doesn’t automatically start shouldn’t impact Windows performance, provided you have ample storage space available for temporary files, updates, and other essential system operations. Therefore, it’s crucial to avoid filling your drives to near capacity. Insufficient free space can negatively impact speed for both HDDs and SSDs.

Just like in real life, regular maintenance is crucial for Windows. Clearing out unnecessary files ensures you always have sufficient free space. It’s also beneficial to uninstall unused programs, move large files from your SSD to an HDD if you have one, and disable unnecessary autostart programs. Windows provides built-in tools to assist with these tasks, while third-party applications offer more advanced features. Keep in mind that there’s no magic "one-click" fix. The tools can only identify potential candidates for deletion; the final decision rests with you.

Navigating Windows’ Built-in Tools

These tips apply primarily to Windows 11, though many of the features are also available in Windows 10.

1. Storage Overview: Open the Settings app (Win+I or search in the Start menu) and navigate to System > Storage. This section provides a comprehensive overview of your system drive’s usage, including the space occupied by temporary files and installed applications. The "Other" category displays space used by files that aren’t easily categorized. Clicking "Show more categories" reveals a more detailed breakdown, including Documents, Pictures, and Videos. Selecting a category provides even more specific information.

2. Temporary Files: Go to System > Storage > Temporary files. Windows identifies files that are safe to delete. These include temporary files, delivery optimization files, and more. You can also choose to include items from your Downloads folder and Recycle Bin. However, be cautious when selecting these options. "Downloads" refers to your personal Downloads folder, so deselect this box if you want to keep those files. For the Recycle Bin, make sure it doesn’t contain any accidentally deleted files you need to recover.

   While it’s safe to delete everything under Temporary files, it may not always be practical. For instance, "thumbnails" are preview images Windows saves to speed up image loading in File Explorer. Deleting them forces Windows to rebuild the cache, which, although not time-consuming, is unnecessary. Similarly, temporary internet files saved by your web browser (like Microsoft Edge) allow for faster loading of frequently visited websites. Deleting these files will cause those pages to load more slowly initially. The Edge cache usually doesn’t exceed 1GB, so the storage savings may be minimal. Other browsers have their own caches, which can be cleared within those programs.

3. Cleanup Recommendations: In Windows 11, go to System > Storage in Settings and click on "Cleanup recommendations." You’ll see the storage space occupied by downloads, the Recycle Bin, and previous Windows installations (if any). Selecting areas and clicking the "Cleanup" button will delete the selected files and other temporary files. Clicking "Advanced options" provides details on the effects of the cleanup. These settings mirror those in System > Storage > Temporary files, but with your current selections included.

   The list under "Large or unused files" and "Unused apps" can be helpful. The "Unused apps" list, however, only displays programs installed through the Microsoft Store. As an alternative, consider using a third-party uninstaller like Iobit Uninstaller.

4. Storage Sense: To automate maintenance, enable Storage Sense in Settings > System > Storage. Storage Sense can automatically clean up temporary system and app files. You can configure its schedule (daily, weekly, monthly) and specify how long files should remain in the Recycle Bin and Downloads folder before being automatically deleted.

   OneDrive users will find the "Locally available cloud content" setting useful. By default, files in your synchronized OneDrive folder that haven’t been opened for 30 days are automatically set to "Available online only," freeing up space on your drive. Files marked as "Always keep on this device" are not affected.

Managing Storage on Multiple Drives

If your PC has an additional SSD or HDD, you can use it for alternative storage. An external USB drive is also an option, but it needs to be connected at all times.

1. Changing Default Save Locations: Go to Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Where new content is saved. Here, you can specify the default location for new apps and documents. For example, you can set "New apps will save to:" to your secondary drive (e.g., E:).

   This method has a drawback: File Explorer still directs "Documents" to the original folder on your C:\ drive. To see files from both locations, enable "Show libraries" in File Explorer’s options (View tab > Navigation pane). This allows you to access files from both folders under Libraries > Documents.

2. Moving Personal Folders Completely: A better approach is to move folders like Documents, Pictures, and Downloads entirely to another drive. First, create the destination folder (e.g., E:\[username]\Downloads). Then, right-click on the folder in File Explorer, go to Properties > Location, and click "Move." Select the new folder and confirm that you want to move existing files. This method updates the File Explorer links to point to the new location.

Managing Installed Programs

Desktop programs are typically installed in C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86). Unlike personal files, programs cannot be simply moved to another drive because the paths to their components and settings are stored in the Windows Registry.

However, you can usually specify a custom destination during program installation. This is especially beneficial for programs that consume significant storage, such as PC games, if you have a small SSD. Be aware that running programs from a slower HDD may impact performance.

Apps from the Microsoft Store can be moved to another drive without reinstalling. In Settings > Apps > Installed apps, click on the three-dot menu next to the app and select "Move." Select the target drive and click "Move." This option is not available for desktop applications or pre-installed system apps.

Understanding Hard Drive and SSD Performance

Hard Drives (HDDs): The speed at which an HDD delivers data varies depending on the location of the data on the physical disk. Data located on the outer edge of the disk can be accessed faster than data located closer to the center. Over time, as files are deleted and created, data becomes fragmented, meaning that parts of a single file are stored in different locations on the disk. This fragmentation slows down access times because the read/write head has to move further to retrieve all parts of the file.

Defragmentation reorganizes files into contiguous blocks, improving performance. Windows includes a built-in defragmenter ("Optimize Drives") that runs automatically by default. Third-party defragmentation tools, like Defraggler, offer more advanced features, such as the ability to defragment individual files.

Solid-State Drives (SSDs): SSDs don’t require defragmentation because they have no moving parts and can access data directly, regardless of its location. However, it’s still important to maintain free space on an SSD. If the drive is filled to capacity, the controller may not have enough free cells to manage memory effectively, potentially reducing its lifespan. Manufacturers typically reserve a portion of the SSD for over-provisioning, which provides extra free cells for the controller to use.

Disk Cleanup

While the Disk Cleanup tool has been included with Windows for a long time, Microsoft now recommends using the functions available in the Settings app. Disk Cleanup offers similar functionality but doesn’t provide any significant advantages.

To use Disk Cleanup, search for it in the Start menu or press Win+R, type "cleanmgr," and click OK. Select the drive you want to clean up and click OK. After the analysis, select the areas you want to clean. You can click on a line for more information.

For more options, click on the "Clean up system files" button and select the system drive. This provides additional options, such as removing previous Windows installations and device driver packages.

You can also configure Disk Cleanup to run with specific settings using the cleanmgr /sageset:1 command. This allows you to save a profile and run Disk Cleanup with those settings automatically.

Browser Cache

Web browsers store website elements in a cache to improve loading speeds. While it’s generally not recommended to clear the cache unless you’re experiencing display errors, you can do so in the browser’s settings. In Microsoft Edge, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data > Choose what to clear. Be careful when deleting cookies, passwords, and autofill form data, as this will remove saved information. Other browsers offer similar options.

Managing Autostart Programs

Many programs install services or nest themselves in the notification area (system tray) to provide regular information or report updates. However, programs you rarely use should be removed from the autostart. You can do this using the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc). On the "Startup apps" tab, programs can be disabled via the "Disable" context menu item. Nothing is deleted, and you can reactivate them at any time.

For a more detailed analysis of autostart entries, use the Autoruns tool. It allows you to disable and reactivate services and autostart entries and offers an analysis via VirusTotal to check for malware.

Third-Party Cleanup Tools

If possible, uninstall programs that you don’t use. This frees up space and improves security. However, uninstall routines are often incomplete. For more thorough removal, consider using tools like Geek Uninstaller or Iobit Uninstaller.

Additional tools, such as BleachBit, CCleaner, Treesize Free and Windirstat offer different perspectives and work more thoroughly. Remember to familiarize yourself with their functions before deleting anything permanently.

Tools like Wise Registry Cleaner can be used to analyze the registry, but be cautious when making changes. Always create a backup copy first.

If you encounter files or folders you can’t delete due to access rights issues, use PC-WELT MyRights to take ownership of the files.

The Winsxs Folder

The "Winsxs" folder in the Windows directory contains important program libraries and system files in different versions. Never delete files from this folder yourself, as it can damage the system. Windows automatically cleans up this folder on a regular basis.