Are you fed up with your laptop’s speed and performance? As your PC ages, it’s quite normal for it to lose its edge. You won’t believe it if we say that your laptop suffers from internal junk and external dust buildup. Cleaning up your computer internally and externally can make a noticeable difference in its performance.

How do you clean your laptop? Let’s show you the right way, then.

Steps to Improve Laptop Performance

How to Clean Your PC Internally

Your laptop comes across so many files, apps, and data. Also, your laptop saves them and such a vast collection wastes your PC’s storage space. When your laptop repair service is out of sufficient storage, it struggles with file accessing and read/write functions. Consequently, your laptop slows down with the internal digital junk.

First, we will talk about how to clean your laptop to get rid of such digital clutter. Here, you will learn how to clean your laptop memory or hard drive, how to determine useless applications, and more. Let’s check out how to free up space on your laptop.

1. Begin with a Disk Cleanup:

Every time you use an app or program, your laptop generates some temporary files. These files are typically used once and your PC doesn’t get rid of them on its own. Over time, such files keep accumulating on the hard drive and they consume enough space.

Windows Update files, CHKDSK files, setup logs, etc. are perfect examples of temporary files. The good news is that you can delete them using the Disk Cleanup utility. Here’s how to run Disk Cleanup on Windows 10:

Click on the Start menu or Windows icon.
Next, type ‘disk cleanup’ and run the same with admin privileges.
Under the Disk Utility window, check the file types you like to delete.
After that, click on OK.

Alternatively, you can spot temporary files using Settings. Here’s what you need to follow:

Open Settings and navigate to System.
Go to Storage and click on your hard disk volume.
Select Temporary Files and check all the files you want to get rid of.
Finally, click on ‘Remove files’.

2. Remove Huge Files from Your Hard Drive:

Making space on your hard disk is directly related to speeding up your PC. How to clean your laptop to make it faster? Well, removing them will create enough space and your hard drive will resume working fluently. Over time, your PC might have accumulated huge files such as photos, videos, and other large documents.

If you don’t remove those files, your laptop will slow down. So, check out how you can delete huge files to create some space:

First, access File Explorer with the shortcut key Windows + E.
Now, look for ‘size: Large’, ‘size: Huge’, or ‘size: Gigantic’. The size limits of Large, Huge, and Gigantic files are respectively 128MB – 1GB, 1GB – 4GB, and more than 4GB.
After that, click on View followed by Sort by. Select Size.
Finally, you can identify unnecessary files and delete them.

If you are not comfortable with deleting those files forever, connect an external drive to your PC. Then, you can transfer all those huge files to the connected drive.

3. Test Your Storage’s Integrity:

Apart from learning how to clean your laptop, it’s essential to take care of your PC’s hard drive. Indeed, you might face file corruption if your PC suffers from a power outage. Hence, it’s important to test your hard drive’s integrity. Well, you can follow the instructions to check on the hard drive’s health:

Begin by clicking the Start button.
Afterwards, type ‘cmd’ and right-click on Command Prompt. Choose ‘Run as Administrator’.
On the Command Prompt window, type the following command: chkdsk /f /r /b.
Then, hit Enter to run the CHKDSK tool.
Verify that you should scan your hard disk until the next reboot.
Now, restart your laptop.

The CHKDSK tool evaluates your drive for errors. Also, the tool tries to fix the found errors. Based on the size of your disk, the scanning and repairing errors might take time.

4. Uninstall Unused Applications and Bloatware:

According to the experts from an on-site laptop repair, unused applications, software, and bloatware can take up too much space. Before your hard drive runs out of space and your PC slows down, make sure you uninstall such unused applications.

Let’s check out how to clean your laptop memory by using the instructions below:

Press Windows + I to navigate to Settings.
After that, click Apps and check out Installed Apps.
A list of installed applications will appear on the screen. Now, look for those apps that you barely use.
Click on the adjacent three dots and choose Uninstall.
Well, you need to repeat the same steps for every unused app, bloatware, etc.

Thus, you can declutter your laptop’s hard drive and boost the laptop’s speed. Also, it aids in the longevity of the laptop.

5. Clear Your Web Browser’s Cache and Cookies:

Does your laptop slow down when you are on the web? Chances are that your browser is full of cache files and cookies, and they can quickly add up. So, you must steer clear of them. Here’s how to clean your laptop to make it faster by managing your browser.

Whenever you visit a website, your web browser saves its elements in the cache. Thus, your browser loads the same website faster the next time you visit it. On the other hand, cookies are files containing information about you that your browser shares with websites. A few cookies store your preferences. However, most cookies track your internet activities.

Professionals of laptop repair Dubai recommend removing such files to improve your browser’s performance. Additionally, deleting cookies will protect your privacy as you won’t leave any digital trail to be tracked.

However, how to clean your laptop’s browser cookies and cache may differ from one browser to another. Follow the general guidelines below:

Open up your web browser such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or whatever browser you use.
Then, access your browser’s menu and look for an option called ‘Privacy & Security’.
Click Privacy & Security and then select Clear Browsing Data.
Next, go to the Advanced tab and hit the Clear Data button.

By now, your browser cache and cookies should be cleared. Test your browser’s speed and performance after this. If you still feel that the browser is slow, consider removing extensions or add-ons that you no longer use.

6. Scan the System for Malicious Software:

Like other files, your PC might download malicious software and files unintentionally. And, this can cost you a decline in your laptop’s performance and speed. Also, your security can be at stake as malware and spyware can damage your data.

Hence, a scan for such malware, spyware, and other infectious entities can save you from unwanted hassles. Here’s how to clean your laptop to make it faster through a quick or full scan:

Navigate to Windows Security through Settings. Alternatively, you can search for Windows Security.
Next, choose Virus & Threat Protection.
After that, Click Scan Options.
Choose Full Scan and hit the button of Scan Now.

Now, your PC will start scanning files and folders minutely. Depending on the storage, the scan timing may vary.

7. Defragment Your HDD:

Do you own a classic laptop that still has an HDD or hard disk drive instead of an SSD? Then, how to clean up your laptop memory isn’t enough. As you add or delete files to your laptop’s HDD, the storage element can become fragmented. The more fragmented your drive is, the more it struggles to access information on your demand.

Also, it worsens your hard drive’s health. Regular defragmenting can keep your drive’s health at optimum. Plus, your laptop retains its desired speed and performance with routine defragmentation. Now, follow the instructions below to learn how to clean your laptop to make it faster.

Use the Windows + S shortcut key to launch the search bar.
Then, type ‘defragment and optimize drives’ and open the same.
Afterwards, choose the hard drive and click Optimise.

If defragmentation doesn’t help, then contact an on-site laptop repair shop for an SSD upgrade. SSDs make your laptop faster by up to 6 times. Additionally, they don’t require any kind of defragmentation.

8. Alter Visual Settings:

Perhaps, your laptop is getting slower because of your advanced graphics and visual selections. This doesn’t engage how to clean laptop exteriors, but it optimises your PC’s resource usage. Here’s what you can abide by:

Search for ‘adjust the appearance and performance for Windows’ and access it.
Next, check the option called ‘Adjust for best performance’.
Finally, click the Apply button followed by the OK button.

How to Clean Laptop Exterior:

As you already know, your laptop can accumulate dust and debris over its exterior, including fans and vents. So, it’s equally important to learn how to clean laptop exteriors. After all, dust and grease can affect your laptop’s appearance and performance. Here’s how to clean laptop exteriors according to a laptop repair near me.

1. Clean the Laptop Display:

Your laptop’s screen is one of the most noticeable components. Keeping the display clean improves the overall viewing experience. Also, you can avoid unnecessary screen damage. However, follow the steps below to give your laptop screen a squeaky and effective clean:

Shut down your system and unplug it.
Now, dampen a microfibre cloth with water or some dedicated screen cleaner.
Next, wipe the screen in gentle, small, and circular motions. Don’t exert pressure on the display.
After that, use a dry microfiber cloth to absorb the remaining moisture from the screen.

2. Clean the Keyboard:

Your keyboard faces a lot – crumbs, dust, and oil from your fingers. Keeping your laptop keyboard clean is mandatory for performance and hygiene. Here’s what it takes to clean your PC keyboard:

First, turn off your laptop and unplug it from charging.
Try to blow out debris from the keyboard using a can of compressed air.
Then, take a cotton swab and dampen it with isopropyl alcohol. Use the damp cotton swab to clean the keys and their surface.
Let the keyboard dry completely before you try to turn on the laptop.

3. Take Care of the Body:

Do you notice smudges all over your laptop’s body? Then, you need to arrange laptop cleaning wipes and a microfibre cloth and proceed with the following guidelines:

Power off your laptop and keep it unplugged.
Use laptop cleaning wipes to wipe your laptop’s exterior. Make sure you don’t miss the touchpad and palm rest.
Pay attention to high-traffic areas. Finally, you can use a dry microfiber cloth to soak excess moisture.

4. Clean Laptop Fan and Vents:

Clogged fans and vents can lead to laptop overheating. Here’s how to clean laptop exteriors including the fan vents:

Start by powering off your laptop.
Then. spot the air vents.
Use a can of compressed air and use short bursts of air to clean the vents.
If you access the fan blades, clean them with compressed air as well.

Make a Habit of Cleaning Your Laptop

So, you know how to clean your laptop, internally and externally. It’s best if you regularise such cleaning practices to maintain your laptop’s health, performance, and longevity. Also, you can contact an on-site laptop repair for professional cleaning.

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