Optimising Windows: How to improve your computer's performance

Game Mode

This feature optimizes the system for maximum performance in games. It stops some services, frees up additional RAM space, and offloads tasks from the CPU.

To enable Game Mode, click "Start" and go to "Settings". Then, navigate to the "Gaming" menu and select "Game Mode". Move the slider to the "On" position and close the menu to save the settings.

Power Settings

Power settings are important for laptops, but even desktop PC users should check them.

Open the "Control Panel" and click on "System and Security". Go to "Power Options" and select the "High Performance" option.

Hibernate Mode

This is a special power-saving mode in which Windows uses minimal power to maintain operation. It is similar to sleep mode, where the system is not fully shut down.

Hibernate mode is useful for laptop owners who need to save every percent of battery power. If your laptop is always plugged in, feel free to disable this feature. It not only occupies RAM but also reserves some storage space, which can degrade system performance.

To disable Hibernate, use the command prompt. Press "Win" and "R", then enter the command powercfg -h off and click "OK".

Disk Indexing

Disk indexing is a service that accelerates file searching. For example, when you need to find a document on your computer, you enter its name in the search bar, and the system shows the detected files.

Disk indexing is a very useful service, but it runs constantly and additionally loads the CPU, storage, and RAM. Since we don’t often use search, you can disable this function. Yes, file detection will take slightly longer, but it’s better to wait a bit than lose performance in games.

Disabling indexing also extends the lifespan of storage devices. The operating system will access the disks less frequently, making them more durable.

• To disable indexing, go to "This PC" and right-click the disk where Windows is installed. Select "Properties" and a small window will open. Uncheck the "Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed..." box. Then click "Apply" and "OK".
• After this, the system will show various pop-up windows. Simply agree with all the conditions or choose "Skip All".
• If you have multiple drives, repeat this process for each drive.

User Account Control

This service is designed to enhance system security. It alerts the user that Windows settings may change when opening a file on the PC. It acts as an access limiter that uses RAM and affects Windows performance.

In practice, the User Account Control service results in a continuous stream of notifications asking whether the user is sure they want to open or run a file. This service becomes so annoying that users simply ignore the notifications and automatically click "Yes" or "Allow" when another pop-up appears.

• To disable the User Account Control service, go to "Control Panel" and open the "Security and Maintenance" section. Then go to "Change User Account Control Settings". In the menu that opens, lower the slider to the bottom and click "OK".
• Now the operating system will not notify you before opening files on your PC. This will not only free up RAM but also make using the PC more comfortable.

System Protection

This service creates restore points in case your computer fails or experiences a critical error. Instead of reinstalling Windows, you can simply restore it to its original state.

System protection can be very useful in unexpected cases, such as when children accidentally mess with system files and cause a critical error. If these situations don’t concern you, feel free to disable this service. This will not only free up RAM but also reduce the load on the CPU.

To disable the service, go to "Control Panel", select "System and Security", and open the "System" menu. Then click "System Protection", select the disk where Windows is installed, and click "Configure". Choose "Disable System Protection" and click "Apply" and "OK".

Remote Access

The remote access feature allows you to control the computer remotely over the internet or local network. Since almost no one uses this service, it can be disabled.

To disable it, go to the "System Protection" section mentioned above, click the "Remote Access" tab, and select "Don’t allow…". Then click "OK" to save the settings.

Disk Defragmentation

This important function properly distributes data on storage devices. It helps computers read and open files faster.

Defragmentation is a lengthy process that runs automatically. It loads the CPU, storage, and RAM. To improve performance, disable automatic defragmentation and perform this process manually, at least once a month.

Click "Search" next to the "Start" menu, type "Disk Optimization". In the "Scheduled Optimization" menu, click "Change Settings" and uncheck the "Run on Schedule" option.

Background Apps

These are programs that run without user input. They work in the background of other operations and consume part of the computer’s performance. You won’t even know these programs are running and being processed by your system.

To disable background apps, go to the "Start" menu, then "Settings", and navigate to "Privacy". Go to the "Background Apps" tab, and you will see a long list of programs. Disable all apps and close the window. Keep in mind that after every Windows update, you’ll need to repeat this process as some programs may restart automatically in the background.

Xbox Game Bar

This utility allows video recording and screenshots in games. It can also be used to communicate with other Windows users while playing. If you don’t use these functions, disable the utility, but note that some Microsoft games require it to be running.

To disable Xbox Game Bar, go to "Settings" and open the "Gaming" menu. Move the slider to the "Off" position and close the menu.

Visual Effects

This setting controls the smoothness of animations in the Windows interface. Turning it off on weak systems can improve performance in games.

Go to "This PC", right-click on an empty space, and select "Properties". Click "Change settings" on the right side of the window. Go to the "Advanced" tab and open "Performance Options". In this menu, select "Adjust for best performance". Uncheck all the options, then click "Apply" and "OK".

Remove Programs from Startup

Some programs open when the computer starts. They occupy RAM and load the CPU and storage.

To disable them, go to "Task Manager" and open the "Startup" tab. In the list that appears, disable programs that you don’t use when the PC starts.