If Windows 11 is running slow or you're experiencing stuttering when opening apps, you're not alone: with a few well-chosen tweaks you can scratch out quite a bit of performance without spending a euro. In this guide I bring you an organized and very complete compilation of everything that works, from the options of the system itself even small advanced touches that make the difference.
It's a good idea to have realistic expectations: these changes aren't magical, but they're noticeable on many devices. We'll go from the simplest (cleaning, notifications, startup) to the more technical (game mode, GPU preferences and registry tweaks), including last resort measures such as resetting the PC or upgrading a component.
Keep Windows 11 and drivers up to date
It may seem basic, but keeping your system and drivers up to date prevents unnecessary bottlenecks. Go to Settings > Windows Update and check for updates. Then go to Advanced Options > Optional Updates to install. pending hardware drivers, and also check for updates to your apps in the Microsoft Store and in each program's own updaters.
In addition to system updates, many performance improvements come in discrete patches from graphics, audio, or network manufacturers. An occasional driver check from Windows Update or official software (e.g., your GPU) can be a great help. notable leap in stability and FPSIf you're unsure about the hardware installed, check your system information to identify specific versions and drivers.
Uninstall programs you don't use
Less software installed means fewer background services, fewer scheduled tasks, and more free space. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, find what you don't need, and tap Uninstall. If you're missing something, open Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program to see the list of apps. complete list of applications.
A useful tip: Sort by Size or Install Date to find old or annoying bugs. When finished, a reboot helps the system clear out residual processes and makes it noticeable. the improvement immediately.
Speed up startup: clear autostart
Many apps sneak into startup without you even noticing. From Settings > Applications > Startup, you can disable what you don't need. If you prefer more control, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and go to Startup Applications—or use msconfig to modify startup—look at “Startup Impact” and disables the ones that penalize the most.
There's an advanced tweak that will reduce overall startup delay. Open the Registry Editor (type regedit in the search bar), navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer and create (if it doesn't exist) the Serialize key. Inside, add the DWORD (32-bit) value StartupDelayInMSec and set it to 0. Before you do anything, export a copy of the Registry to be able to safely undo changes. If you want to check the effect, you can measure the boot time after applying the change.
Another useful item in the Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Here you'll see what launches at startup; delete entries you recognize as unnecessary. This doesn't delete the app; it just prevents it from starting automatically and saves space. RAM and CPU cycles every time you turn on your PC.
Control background processes and apps
There are tools that, even if they're closed, continue to run behind. In Settings > Apps, go to the app, open Advanced Options, and under Background App Permissions, choose "Never" for those that don't require it. Be careful: disabling messaging or critical apps can affect your system. important notices or synchronizations.
Before playing a game or editing a video, close unnecessary tasks from Task Manager > Processes and press End Task on anything you're not using. You'll notice the change immediately: fewer active processes mean fewer active processes. more resources for what really mattersBefore playing, close what you don't need to allocate more resources to the game.
And if there are heavy-duty apps, consider lighter alternatives. For example, switching from a high-power browser to a more moderate one reduces memory pressure. It's a simple gesture that sometimes means a lot. noticeable difference in tight-fitting teams.
Notifications are another silent thief of attention and resources. Go to Settings > System > Notifications and turn off what you don't need. Adjusting notifications from Windows itself and your browser helps avoid activity spikes and constant discomfort while working.
Free up space and automate cleaning
Disk space affects performance, especially if you're using an SSD and maxing it out. In Settings > System > Storage, you can see how much free space you have per drive. Go to Temporary files, select the files you don't need (thumbnails, temporary files, etc.), and tap Remove files to delete them. recover gigabytes in minutes.
Enable Storage Sense by going to Settings > System > Storage and turning on the switch. Under “Set up Storage Sense or run it now,” adjust how often it runs, what it cleans (Temporary, Trash, Downloads), and tap “Clean now” when you want to force a cleanup. It’s a super convenient way to keep the system in check without remembering.
If your computer doesn't display Storage Sense, use the classic Disk Cleanup tool: search for it in the taskbar, select the file types, and if you need more, click "Clean up system files." It's a veteran but effective tool for remove remnants of Windows itself.
Windows 11 also includes “Cleanup Recommendations” in Settings > System > Storage. There you'll see suggestions for emptying the Trash, deleting temporary files, and reviewing large folders. It's a guided review that helps you quickly detect what's left over.
Still short on space? Move photos, videos, or music to an external drive. Connect the USB, open File Explorer, select items, tap Start > Move to > Choose location, and move to the external drive. Freeing up space often means a more agile and stable system.
Power Settings and Game Mode
Laptops often come with a balanced plan that prioritizes battery life over power. If you need more power, open Control Panel > Power Options and select "High Performance." Keep in mind that you'll consume more power and run a bit hotter, but in return, you'll get more power. faster responses and fewer micro-stops.
Enable Game Mode: Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. This mode reduces background tasks and limits Windows Update interruptions when it detects a game. It's a "set it and forget it" setting that helps set more stable FPS and reduce input lag.
Per-app, go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics and set “High performance” to demanding games or programs.
And don't forget: keeping Windows up to date includes performance patches and bug fixes. A check of Windows Update before long sessions avoids "scares" and ensures that the entire system performs as it should.
Visual effects, backgrounds and taskbar
Pretty effects come at a price. In Settings > Ease of Access > Visual Effects, turn off animations and transparencies. If you want to speed things up, open System > About > Advanced system settings > Performance > “Adjust for best performance.” Windows will look less snazzy, but will be more agile in almost everything.
An additional fine-tuning: In the Registry, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop, find MenuShowDelay and set its value to 100 (the default is usually 400). This will speed up menu launches and give you the feeling of "immediate response" without touching other global effects.
The desktop isn't a storage unit: the more icons you have, the longer it takes to render on startup. Leave only the essentials or group them into a folder. It may seem like a small thing, but adding "microsavings" everywhere It is noticeable in everyday life.
If you use animated backgrounds or carousels, consider switching to a still image or solid color. It's not like you'll double the frame rate, but it all adds up, and it reduces the graphical load on the interface. free up resources for your apps.
Finally, clean up your taskbar: Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. Remove the search button if you don't use it, and disable Widgets and the Chat app if they don't help you. Fewer resident items mean fewer processes in memory.
Privacy, Telemetry, and VBS: What to Disable
In Settings > Privacy & Security, check “General,” “Voice,” “Inking & Typing Personalization,” and “Diagnostics & Feedback.” Turn off anything you don’t need (suggestions, tracking app launches, sending optional diagnostics). Reducing this background activity provides a boost. performance and peace of mind.
If you play a lot and are looking for every frame, check Memory Integrity (part of VBS). In Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Device security, uncheck “Memory Integrity.” Note: disabling it improves FPS but decreases protection; consider the balance between security and performance for your device. actual use of the equipment.
Registry Tricks That Actually Help (with Backup)
Before you touch the Registry, create a copy: open RegEdit, go to File > Export, and save the file. Having a safety net allows you to experiment calmly and roll back if something doesn't go as planned. you had planned.
We've already seen how to reduce startup delay (StartupDelayInMSec=0) and how to clean up autostart (Run key). Another key that's often mentioned is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management > LargeSystemCache. Some guides suggest setting it to 1; others to 2, but on desktop Windows, valid values are 0 or 1, and 1 only makes sense in very specific server cache scenarios. My advice: leave it at 0 unless you know exactly why to change it.
To prioritize the response of foreground apps, create/edit the DWORD Win32PrioritySeparation in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\PriorityControl. A value that favors interactive tasks is usually used; the setting varies by system, but the goal is to increase the priority of foreground processes. feel the desktop more agile.
Annoying low-space alerts? In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer, create the DWORD NoLowDiskSpaceChecks and set it to 1. It doesn't free up any space, but it does eliminate the constant alert so you can manage your storage without interruptions.
After making any registry changes, close regedit and restart. This way, you'll be able to see the real impact and avoid half-baked situations where it doesn't apply. what you just adjusted.
Third-party tools: an open source option
If you prefer to centralize settings, there's "Optimizer," an open-source project (on GitHub) that brings together useful toggles: disable telemetry, unnecessary services, unused features (fax/print), optimize network, fine-tune Game Mode, or remove native apps. Being open source, it can be audited by the community, but it still applies changes in a controlled manner. selectively and calmly.
The key is to understand each option. Disabling something useful by mistake can cause you to lose functionality. Think of it like a breaker panel: turn on only what really suits you and test the effect for a few days. validate that it compensates you.
Hardware improvements and external factors
If you're still short on performance after all, a physical upgrade might be in order. Moving from HDD to SSD transforms the system, and adding RAM (8 GB is a reasonable base today) prevents stuttering when opening multiple apps. These are investments that, for little money, extend the life of your PC and improve the experience in everything.
In games, use wired peripherals to lower latency, and if possible, connect your PC via Ethernet. Wi-Fi is convenient, but suffers from interference and barriers; a network cable or PLC establishes a more solid connection and cuts out spikes that can ruin games or downloadsIf you need to prioritize traffic, learn how to change the network priority.
Check your game's graphics settings: they're often set incorrectly by default. By lowering shadows or post-processing and enabling scaling when appropriate, you can increase FPS without losing perceived quality. And remember to monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures: if they get too hot, they'll throttle and performance will drop, so keeping them at bay is vital.
When nothing else works: reset
As a last resort, resetting your PC returns Windows to its factory state. Back up your files (to the cloud or external drive), restart the process, and reinstall only what you actually use. It's the fastest way to clear out "historical clutter" and start with a clean system that feels fresh. almost like new.
By applying these tweaks from top to bottom—updates, space cleanup, boot control, Game Mode, power, effects trimming, privacy, a few Registry tweaks, and, if necessary, a hardware upgrade—your Windows 11 should feel more fluid and stable; the key is to combine several measures and stick with the ones that, on your specific computer, offer a better balance between performance and comfort.
