You Can Fix Most Windows 11 Issues By Double Checking These 4 Settings First

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Windows 11 has been astir for respective years now, and if you were an early adopter for illustration I was, there's a bully chance your machine has slowed down importantly since then. There are respective reasons why a device's capacity whitethorn plummet. 

It could beryllium nan consequence of excessively galore apps taking up resources, unoptimized settings, aliases moreover a microorganism infecting nan hardware. The easiest point you tin do successful nan short word is restart your computer. A elemental reboot restores nan RAM and re-establishes connections.

Also: Did you cognize that Windows 11 has a concealed restart method? Here's really to entree it

But to bask semipermanent capacity improvements, you'll request to set really your machine operates. The proposal I'm astir to springiness you covers everything you tin do correct now to heighten your Windows 11 experience. You won't request to participate a device's BIOS aliases download a random app from an unverified source; these changes tin beryllium made correct from nan strategy menus.

1. Download nan latest updates

Downloading caller Windows 11 update
Microsoft/ZDNET

This is simply a no-brainer, but it's worthy noting that staying up to day pinch Windows 11 patches is crucial. Patches often present capacity enhancements, bug fixes, information updates, and caller features that amended nan wide experience. Normally, nan OS automatically installs patches arsenic they are released by Microsoft, though you tin cheque for updates manually.

Also: Microsoft said my PC was 'too old' to tally Windows 11 - really I upgraded successful 5 minutes anyway

To do this, spell to nan Windows Update conception successful Windows 11 Settings, past click nan Check for Updates fastener successful nan right-hand corner. Any pending patches will beryllium installed. For drivers, enactment connected nan aforesaid page, prime Advanced Options, and past spell to Optional Updates. It's present wherever you'll find missing drivers. As you tin spot successful nan image, I lacked a caller Bluetooth patch.

Conversely, nan patches themselves tin beryllium buggy. If you acquisition capacity issues aft installing a patch, spell to nan bottommost of nan Update History conception successful Windows Update. Select Uninstall Updates. In this section, you tin region nan problematic patch.

2. Disable apps connected startup

Disabling apps successful Task Manager
Microsoft/ZDNET

Some apps are truthful eager to commencement that they automatically unfastened erstwhile you move connected your computer. The problem is that having excessively galore apps moving successful nan inheritance causes a important slowdown. To extremity a programme from launching astatine startup, unfastened Task Manager and click nan Startup Apps icon -- it's nan 1 that looks for illustration a car speedometer.

Also: Windows 11 Home vs. Windows 11 Pro: How to determine which version to upgrade your PC to

Here, you'll spot each of nan apps that activate connected startup. Right-click an entry, past click Disable. Don't worry; this won't wholly disable nan package aliases service. It conscionable prevents them from opening connected startup. If you want nan app to run nan aforesaid arsenic before, right-click it again, past prime Enable.

I powerfully propose pausing OneDrive syncing. Microsoft moreover admits connected its support page that this characteristic tin slow down your PC. 

3. Deactivate unused features

Disabling Notifications connected Windows 11
Microsoft/ZDNET

Windows 11 has truthful galore features that there's a bully chance you're not utilizing each of them. Unused features tin limit nan resources your machine tin allocate to much progressive programs. 

It's up to you what you want to disable. Some users mightiness find definite features aliases devices much useful than others. My examples are simply suggestions, though I urge turning nan pursuing disconnected to instantly spot a capacity boost.

Also: If your Windows 10 PC can't beryllium upgraded, you person 5 options earlier clip runs out

Turning disconnected notifications is simply a bully start. To do this, spell to nan System conception successful nan Windows 11 Settings paper and click Notifications. Toggle nan move connected nan pursuing page to disable them. Next, spell to Personalization, past to Colors. Disable Transparency Effects to region nan translucent ocular effect successful Windows 11. Finally, spell to Device Usage wrong nan Personalization conception and toggle nan move recovered there. Doing truthful prevents Microsoft ads, tips, and suggestions from appearing.

4. Remove malware

Malwarebytes
Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Malware tin origin each sorts of problems, not conscionable hardware slowdown, truthful I powerfully propose downloading an antivirus programme to cleanable up your instrumentality and protect it from early attacks. Windows 11 already comes preinstalled pinch Windows Security, which is good for astir scenarios, but it is not nan astir robust app. 

Also: The champion antivirus package for Windows 11 successful 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

It isn't nan champion astatine defending against phishing attempts, nor is nan package nan astir intuitive (I still don't cognize really to schedule a microorganism scan -- and that's assuming it tin moreover do that).

There are galore awesome options retired there, but, successful our opinion, nan champion is Malwarebytes. It provides coagulated protection against malware, viruses, and phishing attacks, pinch an easy-to-understand personification interface. You don't request a assemblage grade to navigate nan app aliases understand really nan devices work. You will request to salary for a subscription to get nan astir retired of Malwarebytes. I would besides urge installing nan Brave browser connected your Windows 11 PC. It boasts powerful malware protection and blocks third-party trackers cold.

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