Windows 11 is a modern and beautiful operating system, but sometimes it can run slower than you'd like. This is especially noticeable on older or less powerful PCs. The good news is that there are several simple and effective ways to improve system performance, making it faster and more convenient to use.
In this article, we'll look at how to properly configure Windows 11, get rid of unnecessary processes, and optimize its performance so that your computer runs smoothly and stably.
This article is designed to help you speed up and optimize Windows 11. I'm not encouraging you to switch to this operating system, but if you have already switched, are using it, and are encountering problems, I hope my advice will be helpful.
By the way, if you're interested in IT and useful tools, check out my Telegram channel. I regularly post fresh news, life hacks, and other useful things there. And now, to the heart of the article.
Introduction
I'll start by saying that in addition to the standard Windows 11 images, there are lightweight versions that are already pre-optimized and don't require additional configuration or tweaks.
For example:
Tiny11 is a lightweight version of Windows 11 created by removing unnecessary components and services to reduce system requirements and improve performance on weak or old hardware. It takes up less disk space, starts up faster, and consumes fewer resources, while retaining the core functions of the system.
Key features of Tiny11:
Minimized installation size (around 4–5 GB instead of the standard 20+ GB)
Many standard applications and background services are disabled or removed
Improved system startup and operating speed
Support for modern Windows 11 features, but with less load on the hardware
So, here's why I'm mentioning all this:
Tiny11 is suitable for users with low-spec PCs who want a modern and fast Windows 11 interface without needing to significantly upgrade their hardware, as well as for people who don't need the built-in 'bloatware' of the official Windows 11.
Optimizing and Speeding Up the Official Image
But if you don't want to download an unlicensed image or you have the official Windows 11 image installed and need to optimize it, the first steps for optimization are as follows:
Use High Performance Mode
Sometimes, a simple action is enough to boost performance. In Windows 11 there is a power mode setting that affects the computer's power management and performance. By default, the 'Balanced' mode is usually enabled, but switching to 'High performance' mode allows the processor to use more cores, which speeds up the system. However, this may reduce a laptop's battery life.
To enable this mode, open the Windows 11 search bar, type "Choose a power plan," click on the "Power Options" tab at the top, and in the "Show additional plans" drop-down menu, select High performance.
Scan Your Computer for Viruses
Virus removal is a proven and effective way to improve computer performance. The result may not be immediate, but if there are malicious programs or potentially unwanted files on your PC, an antivirus scan will help clean the system. You can use the built-in Windows Defender or third-party antivirus software like Kaspersky, ESET Nod32, and others.
Disable Search Indexing
Disabling the indexing service
Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Find the Windows Search service.
Right-click on it → Properties.
Under "Startup type" select Disabled.
Click Stop, if the service is running, then Apply and OK.
Disabling indexing for specific folders
Open File Explorer.
Right-click on a folder → Properties.
On the General tab, click Advanced... next to 'Allow files in this folder to have contents indexed in addition to file properties'.
Uncheck the box to disable indexing for this folder.
Click OK and apply the changes to all subfolders and files.
Configuration via Indexing Options
Press Win + S, type Indexing and select Indexing Options.
Click Modify and uncheck the folders you don't want to index.
Click OK.
Increase the Page File Size
If your computer has a small amount of RAM, for example, 4 GB or 8 GB, you can increase the size of the page file—the virtual memory. Windows 11 uses a portion of your hard drive space as additional RAM when the physical RAM is not enough.
To configure the page file size:
Open the search bar WIN + S, then type "Performance".
Go to the Advanced tab, click Change in the Virtual memory section.
Uncheck the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives box, select Custom size and set the initial and maximum size.
Disable Startup Tasks
When you install a new application, it often adds itself to startup. This can slow down your system, especially if there are many such applications. You can disable startup programs in Task Manager: right-click the taskbar, select Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, and disable unnecessary applications.
Enable or Disable Efficiency Mode in Task Manager
Windows 11 includes a feature called "Efficiency mode", which reduces the resource load for background applications. This helps improve overall system performance, but in some cases, it can slow down important programs. To change the settings for a specific application, open Task Manager, right-click on the desired application, and enable or disable Efficiency mode.
Remove Unnecessary Programs with Win11Debloat
One of the effective methods for speeding up Windows 11 is to clean up system junk. You can remove unnecessary programs manually, or you can use the Win11Debloat script, which automatically removes pre-installed applications, disables telemetry, removes Bing and Cortana from search, and performs other optimizations. The script is lightweight and runs only when needed, so it doesn't affect your PC's performance.
Disable Windows Visual Effects
Open the Windows search bar again and type "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows", in the "Visual Effects" tab of the window that opens, select the option Adjust for best performance to disable all effects and animations.
Important note: using this option will also affect how fonts are displayed. If you want fonts to be clear and more readable, select the Custom option, uncheck all the options, but leave the Smooth edges of screen fonts checkbox ticked.
If these steps don't yield the desired results, you can try more drastic measures, such as resetting the system or upgrading your hardware.
Conclusion
In this article, we have reviewed the main ways to optimize Windows 11. I hope this helps you and that your operating system will be more optimized and stable.
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