Introduction: Why Does Windows 11 Keep Getting Slower?

Windows 11 is Microsoft's latest operating system, featuring a sleek design and enhanced security features. However, many users experience a gradual slowdown over time, even though the system felt fast and smooth right after installation. Longer boot times, delayed program launches, and overall sluggish responsiveness are far from uncommon.

The causes of this slowdown are varied. Accumulated unnecessary startup programs, increasing temporary files and caches, numerous background services, unoptimized visual effects, and driver conflicts all contribute to the problem. In particular, since Windows 11 demands more system resources than its predecessors, PCs with modest specifications may experience even more noticeable performance degradation.

But don't worry. This guide walks you through proven optimization methods step by step to maximize the performance of Windows 11. From managing startup programs to advanced registry settings, we've included practical tips that even beginners can easily follow. By the time you complete this guide, you may experience an impressive perceived speed improvement of up to 200%.

1. Startup Program Optimization

Programs that automatically launch every time you turn on your computer have the most direct impact on boot speed and overall system performance. Most users are unaware that dozens of programs are running simultaneously at startup.

1.1 Managing Startup Programs via Task Manager

The most basic yet effective method is to use Task Manager.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click the "Startup" tab at the top.
  3. Check the "Startup impact" column for each program. Items marked "High" have the greatest impact on boot speed.
  4. Select unnecessary programs and click the "Disable" button at the bottom right.

Tip: It's best to keep security software (antivirus), cloud sync services (OneDrive, Google Drive), and graphics driver-related programs in your startup list. On the other hand, messengers, game launchers, and update utilities can be launched manually when needed.

1.2 Service Optimization Using msconfig

The System Configuration (msconfig) tool allows for more fine-grained control.

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog and type msconfig.
  2. Navigate to the "Services" tab.
  3. Check "Hide all Microsoft services". This prevents you from accidentally disabling critical system services.
  4. Uncheck unnecessary third-party services from the remaining list.

1.3 Recommended Services to Disable

The following services are unnecessary for most users and safe to disable.

  • Fax: Disable if you don't use a fax machine
  • Print Spooler: Disable if you don't use a printer
  • Bluetooth Support Service: Disable if you don't use Bluetooth devices
  • Windows Search: SSD users can disable this without significant impact on search speed, reducing disk usage caused by indexing
  • SysMain (formerly Superfetch): Recommended to disable for SSD users. HDD users should keep it enabled
  • Connected User Experiences and Telemetry: Disables telemetry data sent to Microsoft

2. Disk Cleanup and Storage Optimization

Temporary files, caches, and old Windows update files that accumulate over time can occupy several gigabytes of disk space and negatively affect system performance. Regular disk cleanup is an effective way to reclaim storage space and improve performance simultaneously.

2.1 Enabling Storage Sense

Windows 11 has a built-in Storage Sense feature that automatically cleans up your disk.

  1. Go to Settings > System > Storage.
  2. Enable "Storage Sense".
  3. Click "Configure Storage Sense" to adjust detailed settings.
  4. Enable automatic temporary file cleanup and set the Recycle Bin emptying interval to "30 days".
  5. You can also set files in the Downloads folder to be automatically deleted after a certain period.

2.2 Using the Disk Cleanup Tool

For a deeper level of cleanup, use the traditional Disk Cleanup tool.

  1. Right-click the C: drive in File Explorer and select "Properties".
  2. Click the "Disk Cleanup" button.
  3. Click "Clean up system files" to display additional items such as previous Windows installation files and Windows Update cleanup.
  4. Select the items to delete and click "OK".

Warning: Deleting "Previous Windows installation" files will prevent you from rolling back to the previous version of Windows. If your current system is running stably, it's safe to delete them.

2.3 Manual Temporary File Cleanup

You can also manually clean up temporary files that automated tools might miss.

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog and type %temp%.
  2. Select all files in the opened folder (Ctrl + A) and delete them.
  3. Some files in use may not be deletable; simply select "Skip" for those.
  4. Clean up the temp and prefetch folders in the same manner.

2.4 Managing Large Files and Apps

In Settings > System > Storage, click "Cleanup recommendations" to see a list of unused large files and apps. Removing apps and files you haven't used in a long time can free up significant disk space.

3. Visual Effects and Power Settings Optimization

The sleek visual effects of Windows 11 are beautiful but consume considerable system resources. Particularly on PCs with insufficient graphics performance, these visual effects can noticeably slow down overall system responsiveness. Power settings are also an important factor that directly affects performance.

3.1 Disabling Visual Effects (Animations)

Turning off unnecessary visual effects can significantly improve perceived speed.

  1. Press Win + R and type sysdm.cpl.
  2. Click "Settings" in the Performance section of the "Advanced" tab.
  3. Select "Custom" and check only the following items:
    • Smooth edges of screen fonts
    • Show thumbnails instead of icons
  4. Uncheck all other items and click "Apply".

3.2 Turning Off Windows 11 Transparency and Animation Effects

Windows 11-specific visual effects can also be disabled separately.

  1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects.
  2. Turn off "Transparency effects". This removes the translucent effects on the taskbar and Start menu, reducing rendering overhead.
  3. Turn off "Animation effects". This removes animations when opening/closing and minimizing/maximizing windows, allowing you to feel instant responsiveness.

3.3 Changing Power Options to High Performance

The default power plan is set to "Balanced," which can limit CPU performance.

  1. Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
  2. Select "High performance". If it's not visible in the list, click "Show additional plans".
  3. If the High performance option is unavailable, run the following command in an administrator Command Prompt: 
    powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61
  4. If the "Ultimate Performance" mode is hidden: 
    powercfg -duplicatescheme 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c

Note: For laptop users, "High performance" mode increases battery consumption. It's recommended to use it only when connected to external power or switch as needed.

3.4 Game Mode and Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

Even if you don't play games, these settings can help improve overall performance.

  • Enable "Game Mode" in Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. This minimizes background tasks during gameplay to concentrate resources.
  • Enable "Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling" in Settings > System > Display > Graphics. This lets the GPU handle its own task scheduling, reducing CPU overhead.

4. Registry and Advanced Settings

Registry editing involves directly modifying core operating system settings, so incorrect changes can cause system errors. Always back up the registry before proceeding. The settings below are proven optimization items that can be safely applied.

4.1 Registry Backup

Always create a backup before making any registry modifications.

  1. Press Win + R and type regedit.
  2. Select "File > Export" from the top menu of the Registry Editor.
  3. Set the export range to "All" and save to a safe location.

4.2 Prefetch and Superfetch Optimization

SSD users can disable Prefetch and Superfetch to reduce unnecessary disk I/O.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters
  • EnablePrefetcher: Set the value to 0 (when using SSD)
  • EnableSuperfetch: Set the value to 0 (when using SSD)

Note: If you're using an HDD, it's better to keep the Prefetch value at 3 (default) for optimal performance.

4.3 Verifying SSD TRIM Is Enabled

Verify that TRIM is enabled to maintain SSD longevity and performance.

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
  2. Run the following command: 
    fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify
  3. If the result shows DisableDeleteNotify = 0, TRIM is enabled.
  4. If it shows 1, enable it with the following command: 
    fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0

4.4 Virtual Memory (Page File) Optimization

Optimizing virtual memory settings can improve performance during memory-shortage situations.

  1. Run sysdm.cpl and go to the "Advanced" tab.
  2. Click "Settings" in the Performance section and go to the "Advanced" tab.
  3. Click "Change" in the Virtual memory section.
  4. Uncheck "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives".
  5. Select the C: drive and choose "Custom size".
  6. Initial size: 1.5 times your actual RAM (e.g., 24576 MB for 16 GB RAM)
  7. Maximum size: 3 times your actual RAM (e.g., 49152 MB for 16 GB RAM)

4.5 Network-Related Registry Optimization

These registry settings improve internet speed and network response time.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters
  • IRPStackSize: Set the DWORD value to 32 (default 15, improves network performance)
  • Size: Set the DWORD value to 3 (maximum server optimization level)

4.6 Reducing Menu Display Delay

Increase the display speed of the Start menu and context menus to improve perceived responsiveness.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
  • MenuShowDelay: Set the string value to 0 (default 400ms)

5. Security and Maintenance Routine

Optimization is not a one-time setup. To keep your system in peak condition, it's important to establish and follow regular maintenance routines. Neglecting security can allow malware to consume system resources, becoming a major cause of performance degradation.

5.1 Windows Update Management

Windows updates include security patches and performance improvements, so you should always stay up to date. However, you can manage update timing to minimize interruptions during work.

  1. Go to Settings > Windows Update.
  2. Set "Active hours" to prevent automatic restarts during working hours.
  3. Check "Advanced options" for "Optional updates" and periodically verify whether driver updates are included.
  4. It's safer to install major feature updates after a stabilization period (about 1-2 weeks) rather than immediately after release.

5.2 Driver Updates

Outdated drivers can cause performance degradation, system instability, and security vulnerabilities.

  • Graphics drivers: Keep your drivers up to date using NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Adrenalin, or Intel Driver & Support Assistant.
  • Chipset drivers: Download and install the latest chipset drivers from your motherboard manufacturer's website.
  • Network drivers: If you experience network slowdowns or connection instability, check for driver updates first.
  • Using Device Manager: Run devmgmt.msc to check for devices with yellow exclamation marks and update their drivers.

5.3 Malware Scanning and Security Maintenance

Malware silently consumes system resources, causing severe performance degradation.

  • Regular Windows Defender scans: In Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security, click "Virus & threat protection" and run a "Quick scan" at least once a week.
  • Full scan: Run a "Full scan" from "Scan options" at least once a month to thoroughly check your entire system.
  • Offline scan: If you suspect malware that regular scans can't remove, run "Microsoft Defender Offline scan".
  • Browser extension cleanup: Remove unnecessary or suspicious browser extensions. Some extensions consume significant resources in the background.

5.4 Weekly/Monthly Maintenance Checklist

Regularly performing the following checklist will keep your system in optimal condition at all times.

Frequency Task Time Required
Weekly Windows Defender quick scan 5-10 min
Weekly Temporary file cleanup (%temp%) 2-3 min
Weekly Review startup program list 3-5 min
Monthly Check and install Windows updates 10-30 min
Monthly Disk cleanup (including system files) 5-15 min
Monthly Check for driver updates 10-15 min
Monthly Full virus scan 30-60 min
Quarterly Remove unused programs 15-30 min
Quarterly Create system restore point 5-10 min

Conclusion: Complete Optimization Checklist Summary

We have explored various optimization methods step by step to maximize the performance of Windows 11. Applying all the settings introduced in this guide can deliver noticeable performance improvements, from boot speed to program launch speed and overall system responsiveness. Here's a summary of the key optimization items:

  1. Startup program optimization: Disable unnecessary startup programs and services using Task Manager and msconfig. This alone can reduce boot time by 30-50%.
  2. Disk cleanup: Enable Storage Sense and regularly clean up temporary and system files. You can reclaim several gigabytes of space.
  3. Visual effects optimization: Disable unnecessary animations and transparency effects, and change the power setting to High performance.
  4. Advanced registry settings: Improve low-level system performance through Prefetch disabling (SSD), TRIM verification, and virtual memory optimization.
  5. Security and maintenance: Keep your system in optimal condition through regular updates, driver management, and malware scanning.

The key is to approach optimization as an ongoing management process rather than a one-time task. By consistently maintaining your system using the weekly/monthly maintenance checklist provided above, you can always use Windows 11 in a smooth and responsive state. Also, always make it a habit to create a system restore point and back up the registry before any optimization work. Safe optimization is the best optimization.

We hope this guide helps make your Windows 11 environment faster and smoother. If you have additional questions or optimization tips, please share them in the comments.