How to Optimize Windows 8

This updated guide examines How to Optimize Windows 8 and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 2:

Optimizing the Drives Manually

1. Swipe your finger inward from the right edge of the screen, or hover the mouse on the upper-right of the screen.
2. Tap or click on 'Search.' Type 'defragment' in the search box.
3. Select "Defragment," and optimize your drives.
4. Tap or click the drive you want to optimize under 'Status.'
5. Tap or click on 'Analyze.' This will determine if the drive needs to be optimized. The Current Status window will show if the drive needs optimizing.
6. Optimize. If it shows that the drive is more than 10% fragmented, optimize it by selecting the 'Optimize' button.

Method 2of 2:

Changing the Optimization Schedule

1. Swipe your finger inward from the right edge of the screen, or hover the mouse on the upper-right of the screen.
2. Tap or click on 'Search.' Type 'defragment' in the search box.
3. Select "Defragment," and optimize your drives.
4. Select 'Change Settings.'
5. Untick the 'Run on a schedule' check box to turn off scheduled optimization.
   • If you choose to untick the box, you will now have to optimize manually.
   • If you leave the box checked, proceed to the next step.
6. Change the frequency of scheduled optimization. Beside 'Frequency,' bring down the list and then select whether you'd like to schedule an optimization daily, weekly, or monthly.
   • The default is weekly.
7. Select the drives you would like to optimize during the scheduled optimization. Beside 'Drives,' tap or click 'Choose' and select the drives you want to include in the scheduled optimization.
8. Tap or click "Okay."