SOLVED: 7 Quick Windows 11 Tweaks That Genuinely Boost Performance

If you have a computer, any computer, for more than a few months you will find that it gets slower and that gets annoying. The problem is there is a lot of junk articles and social media posts giving useless information about how to achieve a performance boost in Windows 11.

How To Really Improve Windows 11 Performance

To keep this brief, we have created this bulleted list of 7 things you can do to your Windows 11 to notably improve performance.

Note: After you make any of the changes below, you should reboot your Win11 computer (not just log off/on).

1. Remove Redundant Third-Party Antivirus

Heavy third-party antivirus suites can often consume more resources than the threats they stop, especially when Windows Defender is already built-in.

• What it does: Completely uninstall bloated third-party antivirus programs like McAfee or Symantec/Norton. Windows Security (Defender) is highly effective, modern, and less resource-intensive. Removing the third-party software automatically reactivates Defender, ensuring you remain protected
• Real-World Effect: Eliminates background scans, constant pop-ups, and the heavy CPU/RAM usage often associated with these suites, leading to a noticeable overall performance improvement

2. Uninstall Unused Software & Bloatware

Over time, systems accumulate software that is rarely or never used, which often run programs in the background chewing up resources. Things like Zoom video conferencing and VPN’s love to automatically start up making everything slower.

• What it does: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps and uninstall old, specialized software like printer software for printers you no longer own, old camera utilities for camera you no longer have, or “crapware” like Candy Crush (unless you are using Candy Crush) that came pre-installed on your PC
• Real-World Effect: Frees up disk space and eliminates associated background services, improving system stability and slightly boosting general performance
• Bonus Effect: This reduces your “attack surface” which refers to the total number of ways a hacker can take control of your computer

3. Aggressively Manage Startup Programs

Many non-essential applications launch automatically and run hidden in the background, consuming resources the moment you log in.

• What it does: Use the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to go to the Startup apps tab. Disable any programs you don’t need running immediately (e.g., chat apps, media launchers, or utilities you only use occasionally)
• Real-World Effect: This dramatically reduces Windows boot time and immediately frees up a significant amount of RAM and CPU resources, making the system feel snappier right from the desktop

4. Clean Up Temporary Files & Residue

Temporary files from programs, web browsers, and even Windows updates accumulate over time. Temporary files are meant to be automatically deleted when a program closes or updates successfully, but that often doesn’t happen. Note that this is not about disk space; it’s about those dead files causing confusion for the programs you’re trying to run or Windows itself.

• What it does: Use the Run command (Win+R) to navigate to and delete the contents of both the user’s temp folder (%TEMP%) and the system’s temp folder (C:\Windows\Temp). Also, run the Disk Cleanup utility (search for it) and select “Clean up system files” to safely remove old Windows Update residue and other large files
• Real-World Effect: Removes dead files that can confuse programs and Windows itself.
• Bonus Effect: Frees up gigabytes of disk space, which is essential for SSD health and speed, and prevents system scans from being bogged down by thousands of junk files

5. Clean Out Dust and Ensure Proper Cooling

Performance issues are frequently caused by the PC automatically slowing down to prevent overheating, a process called thermal throttling.

• What it does: Regularly clean dust from your CPU cooler, GPU fans, and case filters. Dust acts as an insulator and obstructs airflow
• Real-World Effect: By maintaining lower temperatures, your CPU and GPU can consistently run at their maximum clock speeds (boost clocks) for longer periods, preventing performance dips and ensuring maximum sustained performance during heavy workloads like gaming
• Bonus Effect: Your computers fans will turn on less and, if you have a laptop, the battery will last longer.

6. Update Essential Drivers

Outdated or generic drivers can lead to system instability, crashes, and poor performance, especially for graphics and networking.

• What it does:
  1. Check for optional updates in Windows: Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates (look under the Driver updates section)
  2. Run the Manufacturer’s Utility: Install and run your system manufacturer’s proprietary tool (e.g., Dell Support Assistant, HP Support Assistant, Lenovo Vantage) to get the latest custom drivers and firmware updates
• Real-World Effect: Ensures hardware components run with maximum stability and efficiency, often resolving nagging bugs and improving performance in games and resource-intensive applications

7. (Advanced) Enable RAM’s XMP/EXPO Profile in BIOS

This is often the most significant but most technical performance boost, primarily for enthusiast or custom-built PCs. RAM generally runs slower than its rated speed by default.

• What it does: Enabling the eXtreme Memory Profile (XMP) for Intel or EXPO for AMD in your PC’s BIOS/UEFI forces the RAM to run at its advertised, higher frequency (e.g., from 4800 MHz up to 6000 MHz)
• Real-World Effect: This delivers better memory throughput, which directly translates to higher sustained frame rates (FPS) in games and noticeable speed improvements in CPU-intensive tasks like video editing

Note: This feature is typically not available on standard pre-built desktops or most laptops like Dell’s, HP’s and Lenovo’s.

The Wrap

Forget confusing settings and focus on what truly slows you down. These seven quick changes will genuinely rejuvenate your Windows 11 PC!

Stop the hidden drag by removing bulky old antivirus and preventing apps you don’t use from launching at startup. Give your system breathing room by deleting all junk files and old programs cluttering your drive. Finally, ensure your hardware runs at peak efficiency by updating important drivers and clearing dust for better cooling.

You’ll feel a noticeable speed boost instantly!

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