A slow laptop can turn even simple tasks into a frustrating experience. While buying new hardware can help, it’s not always possible — especially if you’re on a budget. The good news? You can significantly improve your laptop’s speed without spending a single rupee. These free performance hacks will help you get the most out of your device.
Step 1: Uninstall Unnecessary Programs
Over time, laptops accumulate software you no longer use. These programs consume storage and sometimes run background processes that slow down performance.
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Open Control Panel > Programs & Features (Windows) or Applications (Mac)
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Uninstall apps you don’t need
Step 2: Disable Startup Programs
Many applications set themselves to start automatically with your system, delaying boot time.
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Windows: Press
Ctrl + Shift + Esc→ Go to Startup tab → Disable unnecessary apps -
Mac: Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items and remove unwanted apps
Step 3: Clear Temporary Files
Temporary files, cache, and logs can eat up storage space.
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Windows: Use Disk Cleanup (
Windows + S, search “Disk Cleanup”) -
Mac: Use Finder → Go to ~/Library/Caches/ and delete old files
Step 4: Update Your Operating System & Drivers
Updates often contain performance improvements and bug fixes.
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Windows: Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update
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Mac: System Preferences → Software Update
Step 5: Reduce Visual Effects
Fancy animations and transparency effects look good but consume resources.
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Windows: System Properties → Advanced → Performance Settings → Adjust for best performance
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Mac: System Preferences → Accessibility → Reduce motion/transparency
Step 6: Optimize Storage
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Delete large files you don’t need
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Move photos/videos to an external drive or cloud storage
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Empty the Recycle Bin/Trash
Step 7: Run Built-in Maintenance Tools
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Windows: Defragment and Optimize Drives
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Mac: Repair Disk using Disk Utility
Step 8: Restart Regularly
Shutting down or restarting your laptop clears memory and stops unnecessary background processes.
Bonus Tip – Browser Optimization
If your browsing is slow:
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Remove unused extensions
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Clear browsing data regularly
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Use lighter browsers if possible
Conclusion
You don’t need to spend money to enjoy a faster laptop. With regular maintenance, smart settings adjustments, and storage optimization, your device can run almost like new — all for free.
