This is a collaborative post: When you purchase a laptop, you want it to last as long as possible. Unfortunately, it is inevitable that at some point, you will experience reduced responsiveness and slower speeds which can be extremely frustrating, and lead to increased costs as you search for a new device.
Fortunately, if you take care of your laptop, you can prolong its life span, along with its efficiency and responsiveness for longer.
Here are some top tips to help you improve your laptop performance.
Free up disk space
Over time, you have probably accumulated a large number of applications and files on your device. Laptops are often preloaded with several applications, or installed during an update, that will never be used by some people. Take some time to go through your device and identify the applications you no longer use and remove them from your laptop. Make sure during this process, if you come across any you are unsure of, you double-check they are not important for the functioning of your laptop, or other applications that you regularly run. Clearing out old files and applications, can clear up a lot of much-needed space on your disk and allow it to run much quicker.
Regularly update the software
You are probably regularly prompted to update the software, but how often do you accept it? Software updates can often pop up at inconvenient times, but you must make time to install the new updates. This is because they usually come jam-packed with features that update old applications, keep your laptop running quickly, fix any bugs, protect your laptop from any security threats, and new functions that make it easier for you to use. Make sure after any software updates you check for any functional or connection issues, and if any do arise, get them fixed as soon as possible.
Limit the number of programs that are running
Where possible, try not to run too many programs in one go. Once you have finished using an application, make sure you shut it down properly before loading the next. You can also check which programs are loaded when you first boot up your laptop in the task manager. Quite often, some programs will run in the background without you knowing and in turn, impact how you are using your laptop and its performance. Head to the settings and make any adjustments to unnecessary loading programs and applications.
Consider using different applications
On occasion, it may not be your laptop that is the issue, but the applications that you are using. For example, the type of web browser you are using may be a lot slower than an alternative that is available for you to use. Do some research to see what other applications are available, and see which ones offer better loading times. You can also check the settings of the applications you are using, to ensure they are optimal for use. Remember to check the cache too, as this can result in a slower running laptop as information accumulates over time.
There are many ways you can improve the performance of your laptop, without buying a new one.