Stop these 4 bad habits that slow down your laptop!
There are many advantages to using a laptop. It's incredibly portable, meaning you can take your work with you wherever you go. However, if you're not careful, you can pick up some really bad habits that can slow down your laptop and make it a pain to use.
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4. Skip software updates
There are times when it makes sense to avoid Windows updates, especially since they sometimes cause annoying bugs. However, doing so over time can actually slow down your computer's performance and put it at risk from bad guys.
Many times, the updates Microsoft releases are based on both delivering new features and security features. Sometimes they also come with new optimization changes that can help your PC run smoother.
Therefore, avoiding installing these updates can slow down your PC, especially if you use it on a daily basis. You should always keep an eye on new updates as they come out to make sure they don't cause any major problems. If they do, you can delay installing them or even roll back to a previous version if you've just made a backup of your PC.
Microsoft offers a few different options for managing Windows updates, but there's really no way to disable OS updates forever. You're going to have to install the updates eventually anyway, so there's no point in delaying them for too long.
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3. Let unused apps accumulate
It's easy to download an app onto your laptop and then completely forget about it, not opening it for months or even years. But not only does this take up important storage space on your laptop's hard drive or SSD , it can also take up resources if the app is running in the background.
For this reason, you should clean your PC at least once a year. This is part of your regular laptop maintenance routine, helping you keep track of your apps and storage. The easiest way to clean your PC is to do a clean install of Windows 11, completely removing everything.
That doesn't always work for everyone, though, so you should at least open your app list by navigating to Settings > Apps > Apps & features . Go through the list and figure out which apps you haven't used in a while. If you think you don't need an app anymore, uninstall it and reclaim some storage space.
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2. Leaving too many tabs open
Believe it or not, the browser you're using to read this article is one of the most resource-hungry programs on your laptop or PC, especially if it's Chrome. However, things can get even more complicated on your laptop if you have a bad habit of keeping too many browser tabs open.
Having 10 tabs open may not seem like much, especially with newer systems that have more RAM and better processors. But, every little bit counts when it comes to keeping your laptop running as smoothly as possible.
Try consolidating your browser tabs and shutting down any tabs or browser windows you don't really need. Yes, some browsers have new features that put tabs to sleep when you haven't used them for a while. But those features don't always work reliably, so it's best to get into the habit of shutting down things when you don't need them.
One useful trick that many people use is tab groups, which allows users to set up all related tabs in one group. You can then open and close them all as needed. This helps cut down on the amount of resources those tabs take up, as well as taking up less space on your browser's taskbar.
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1. Neglecting regular maintenance
One bad habit that many people have with their laptops is not doing regular maintenance. This can be as basic as uninstalling unused applications or as deep as deleting unused files that you no longer need.
To help you avoid falling into this bad habit, try setting up a routine to delete various settings, files, or apps every few weeks. Don't overwhelm yourself by trying to do it all at once. Start small, like managing your PC's startup applications; opening too many applications at startup can slow down Windows significantly.
From there, start doing other regular maintenance. Clear out your downloads folder one week, then review your unneeded documents the next. Over time, the changes you make will add up, making your system run smoother. You should also consider uninstalling bloatware from Windows 11, as this will remove a lot of apps you don't need.
Each of these bad habits is easy to fall into, especially if you don't keep track of them. But if you want your laptop to run as smoothly as possible, you should break them as soon as possible.
Good luck!
See also:
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