Windows 10 Quick Tips: 13 Ways to Speed Up Your 5-Year-Old PC

Is your computer feeling slower than it used to? Don’t worry—you don’t need a brand-new machine to get things running faster. Windows 10 is a powerful OS, and with a few smart tweaks, you can breathe new life into a 5-year-old PC.

Here are 13 quick and effective ways to speed up your aging computer without spending a cent.

🧹 1. Turn Off Startup Programs

Too many apps launching at startup can slow down boot time.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager

• Go to the Startup tab and disable anything you don’t need (like Skype, OneDrive, etc.)

💾 2. Uninstall Unused Programs

Old, unused apps take up space and can run background processes.

• Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features

• Uninstall anything you don’t recognize or no longer use

🗂️ 3. Free Up Disk Space with Storage Sense

Windows 10 has a built-in cleaner to remove temp files, system junk, and more.

• Go to Settings > System > Storage

• Turn on Storage Sense and run a cleanup

⚙️ 4. Change Power Settings to High Performance

Your PC might be set to a power-saving mode.

• Go to Control Panel > Power Options

• Select High Performance

🪄 5. Disable Visual Effects

Eye candy slows performance on older machines.

• Press Windows + R, type sysdm.cpl > Advanced tab > Settings under Performance

• Choose “Adjust for best performance” or manually turn off animations

🔄 6. Restart Regularly

A basic but often overlooked tip—restart your PC at least once a week to clear out memory and close background tasks.

📂 7. Defragment (HDD only)

If you’re using a traditional hard drive (not SSD), defragment it:

• Type “Defragment” into search and select “Defragment and Optimize Drives”

• Run it on your main drive

🧼 8. Run Disk Cleanup

Another classic tool that still works:

• Type “Disk Cleanup” in search

• Select your main drive (usually C:) and remove temporary files, system logs, etc.

🔌 9. Disable Background Apps

Some apps keep running in the background and eat up memory.

• Go to Settings > Privacy > Background apps

• Turn off unnecessary ones

🦠 10. Scan for Malware

Malware and bloatware can make a PC crawl. Run a full scan using:

• Windows Defender

• Or a trusted tool like Malwarebytes

⏫ 11. Update Windows and Drivers

Performance updates are regularly released—don’t miss them.

• Go to Settings > Update & Security

• Also update your graphics and motherboard drivers from manufacturer sites

🔍 12. Use Lighter Alternatives to Heavy Software

Instead of resource-hogging apps:

• Use Chrome or Edge with fewer extensions

• Try Sumatra PDF instead of Adobe Reader

• Use LibreOffice or WPS Office instead of Microsoft Office

🧠 13. Consider a RAM or SSD Upgrade (Optional but Powerful)

If you’re willing to invest a little, upgrading from HDD to SSD or adding more RAM can dramatically boost performance—even more than a new computer in many cases.

✅ Final Thoughts

A 5-year-old PC running Windows 10 still has a lot of life left in it. By following these tips, you can trim the fat, cut down on delays, and keep your system running smoother for years to come.

Give these tricks a try, and your old PC might just surprise you.