Is your computer is running slow, and you don’t know why. The good news is that this could be easily fixed, and I’m here to help. I’ll go over 6 simple steps that will hopefully help speed up your computer, regardless of if it’s a PC or a Mac.
Step 1: Empty your Trash
If you have a PC, right-click on the Recycle Bin and select “Empty Recycle Bin.” To do this on a Mac, go to Finder -> click Applications and find and delete trash (this step can be skipped if you don’t use the trash). Sometimes we take up space in our trash with useless information. This step speeds up your computer and ensures we won’t be wasting space and slowing our computer down.
Step 2: Scan for Malware and Viruses
Install and run an anti-virus program such as AVG or Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Mac) to scan for malware and viruses. If you don’t have an anti-virus program, download one you trust. If you have a Mac, it is reported that they are not susceptible to malware.
Step 3: Scan for Adware and Spyware
Adware and Spyware are the most common causes of slowness in computers. To check for these, install an Adware or Spyware removal program such as AdwCleaner or Malwarebytes AdwCleaner (Mac) if you don’t have an Adware/Spyware removal program, download one that you trust.
Step 4: Delete Temporary Files and Cookies
Your web browser saves a cookie for every site you visit, which can add up fast. You can clear your cache to avoid this by going to Edit -> Preferences in Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Now click “Clear browsing data” at the top of the settings page. You can also click “Clear all” to delete all temporary files and history.
Step 5: Defragment your Hard Drive
You can defragment your computer by going to either My Computer or This PC for a PC, and Finder for a Mac. Then right-click on your hard drive and select “Defragment.” On a Mac, you can also click “Defragment disk” under the Optimize menu. This will put your files back together to run faster.
Step 6: Restart your Computer
This is the most straightforward, most obvious step that most people skip. However, restarting your computer can tell it to clean out useless files and start fresh. Go to your start menu or screen and click the power button on the bottom-right corner of the screen. It will prompt you to save your work and then restart your computer after a few seconds. Now you’re back up and running faster than ever!
Final Thoughts
Your computer doesn’t have to be slow, and if you follow the steps above, you should be able to run faster. If your computer is slow, it could be because of the several reasons mentioned above. However, if you have any questions or concerns about these steps, feel free to contact me. I hope this has helped and enjoyed your faster computer!
