Master Tutorial to Make Windows 10 Faster

Finally the wait is over! Our exclusive tutorial to make Microsoft’s latest operating system Windows 10 super fast is now available for your reading pleasure. Lots of readers were requesting for this guide and now we are pleased to publish it.

Our master tutorial series is very popular among people and all thanks goes to our readers for finding our tutorials easy and helpful and spreading the word about it.

We have posted similar master tutorials to make previous Windows versions super fast in past which can be found at following links:

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Today’s tutorial will help you in improving your Windows 10 computer performance and making it lightning fast. After following this tutorial, you’ll notice a great improvement in your computer’s performance as well as reliability.

So without wasting time lets start our master tutorial to make Windows 10 super fast:

For your convenience we have divided this tutorial is different parts:

STEP 1: Registry Tweaks to Improve Windows 10 Performance

Long time back we posted an exclusive tutorial containing a ready-made Registry script which can be used to tweak a few simple things in all Windows versions. The same Registry script will also work in Windows 10.

So download and run the Registry script given in following article:

Download Registry Script to Speed up Windows 10

This script will tweak Windows 10 to make context menus appear faster, automatic close applications which are not responding and make everything faster than before.

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The Registry script ZIP file also contains an uninstallation script to restore default settings if required.

STEP 2: Disable Animations and Eye Candy Effects to Improve Performance

By default, Windows 10 uses lots of animations and other effects such as shadows, etc to provide an attractive user interface but these animations and effects can take your system resources and can effect computer performance.

You can disable all these animations and effects to improve Windows 10 performance with the help of following steps:

1. Press Win+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type sysdm.cpl and press Enter. It’ll open classic System Properties window.

Related: Add Classic System Properties Option in My Computer Context Menu

2. Now go to Advanced tab and click on Settings button present under Performance section.

3. It’ll open another window. Now uncheck following options:

  • Animate controls and elements inside windows
  • Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing (Check this)
  • Animations in the taskbar
  • Fade or slide menus into view
  • Fade or slide ToolTips into view
  • Fade out menu items after clicking
  • Save taskbar thumbnail previews
  • Show shadows under mouse pointer
  • Show shadows under windows (Check this)
  • Show translucent selection rectangle
  • Slide open combo boxes
  • Smooth-scroll list boxes
  • Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop

Disable_Animations_Shadow_Effects_Windows_10.png

4. Now apply the changes and close settings window.

PS: Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Office users should also visit following tutorials to make these programs faster by disabling unnecessary animations and transition effects:

[Tip] Disable Smooth Typing Animation and Transitions to Make Microsoft Office Faster

[Tip] Make Mozilla Firefox Faster by Disabling UI Animations

STEP 3: Turn Off All Animations at once in Windows 10

There is another way to turn off all animations in Windows 10. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Open Start Menu and click on Settings. Alternatively you can direct open Settings window by pressing WIN+I keys together.

2. Now go to “Ease of Access -> Other options” page and set the option “Play animations in Windows” to Off.

Disable_Windows_10_Animations.png

PS: Alternatively, You can directly launch this page using “ms-settings:easeofaccess-otheroptions” command in RUN dialog box as mentioned here.

It’ll turn all animations off in Windows 10 which will improve your computer performance.

STEP 4: Disable Transparency on Start Menu, Taskbar and Action Center

Disabling transparency effects can also help in improving system performance. If you don’t like the transparency effect on Windows 10 Start Menu, Taskbar and new Action (Notification) Center, you can turn transparency effect off using following steps:

1. Open Settings app again from Start Menu.

2. Now go to “Personalization -> Colors” page and set the option “Make Start, taskbar, and action center transparent” to Off.

Disable_Transparency_Windows_10_Start_Menu_Taskbar_Action_Center.png

PS: In newer Windows 10 versions, the option has been renamed to “Transparency effects“.

That’s it. It’ll immediately remove the transparency effect and make the Start Menu, Taskbar and Action Center opaque.

STEP 5: Disable Unnecessary Features Using Folder Options

You can disable many unnecessary options using Folder Options to improve system performance and functionality.

1. Open This PC and click on “View” tab present in Ribbon. Now click on “Options” button present at the end to open Folder Options window.

2. Now go to “View” tab and uncheck following options:

  • Display file size information in folder tips
  • Hide empty drives
  • Hide extensions for known file types
  • Hide folder merge conflicts (Check this)
  • Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color
  • Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items

Windows_10_Folder_Options.png

3. Apply the changes and close Folder Options window.

STEP 6: Configure Windows 10 Services to Improve Performance

As we told you earlier that in Windows OS, several unnecessary services run in background and consume system resources. You can change those services startup type to manual to stop them from automatically start with Windows. It’ll improve your Windows 10 performance a lot.

Check out following exclusive tutorial to learn how to configure Windows 10 services:

[Guide] Which Windows 10 Services are Safe to Disable?

STEP 7: Remove Unwanted Programs from Windows Startup

Similar to services, there are many unnecessary software programs which automatically start with Windows and keep running in background. You can disable those programs from system startup to improve performance:

1. Right-click on Taskbar and select “Task Manager” option. Alternatively, you can direct open Task Manager by pressing “Ctrl+Shift+Esc” keys together.

2. Now go to “Startup” tab and select the unwanted program in the given list and click on “Disable” button to remove it from startup.

Disable_OneDrive_Startup_Task_Manager_Windows_10.png

3. Restart your computer and the disabled program will no longer start with Windows and you’ll get a faster running system.

Also Check: [Tip] How to Manage Startup Apps in Windows 10

Once you disable unnecessary programs from startup, it’ll make your Windows 10 device boot faster.

STEP 8: Disable Sound Notifications for Various Events

In Windows whenever a system event occurs such as attaching/removing USB drives or memory cards, pop-up notifications, reminders, battery notifications, UAC prompts, etc, a sound clip is played to notify the users. If you don’t need all or some of these sound notifications, you can remove them using following steps:

1. Open classic Control Panel using control command in RUN dialog box or WIN+X menu and then click on Sound icon. Alternatively, you can direct open Sound window using mmsys.cpl command in RUN dialog box.

2. Now go to Sounds tab. Here you can click on desired program event which you want to disable and then select (None) from Sounds drop-down list.

You can also select “No Sounds” from “Sound Scheme” drop-down box to disable all sound notifications in your computer.

Windows_10_Sound_Settings.png

3. Apply the changes and close Sound window.

STEP 9: Uninstall Unnecessary Modern Apps and Restore Classic Programs

In Windows 10, several modern (metro) apps come preinstalled and some of them keep running in background. If you don’t use modern apps, you can uninstall them using following tutorials:

[Tip] How to Uninstall Modern Apps in Windows 10

[Guide] How to Remove All Built-in Apps in Windows 10

Easy Way to Uninstall Built-in Apps in Windows 10

Once you uninstall unnecessary apps, those apps will no longer run in background and you’ll notice improvements in overall system performance.

You can also bring back several classic programs such as Calculator, Paint, Wordpad, Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10 to get classic and faster experience:

[Tip] Restoring Classic Programs and User Interface in Windows 10

STEP 10: Improve Privacy Settings to Stop Background Data Collection

In Windows 10, lots of background activities happen to collect information regarding your location, typing behavior, account info, etc. You can improve your privacy settings and stop Windows from collecting this data which will also improve your system performance.

Check out following exclusive article to customize privacy settings in Windows 10:

[Guide] Best Privacy Settings for Windows 10

STEP 11: A Few Other Things to Note

Apart from above mentioned points, also do following things regularly to keep your computer faster and reliable:

  • Keep your Windows updated
  • Install only necessary software programs (Check this)
  • Use a good antivirus and keep it updated

Also check following Windows 10 guides:

Published in: Windows 10

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. If your windows 10 PC is behaving slow, use disk cleanup to delete unnecessary files. Just search disk cleanup in windows 10 taskbar search box. Also go to settings – privacy – background apps and disable background apps.

  2. Old Printer HP 4255 started to work erratically after installing superfast tweak win 10 (everything else was top).
    I have notebook Asus R500V working slowly on win 10.. any tweak on tweak to make this work?

  3. ^^ It might be possible that you disabled “Print Spooler” service using Services Manager. Set it back to Automatic.

  4. FABULOUS info and just in time to STOP me from putting this new laptop under the back wheels of my F-350! Thank you!

  5. here’s one that’s only sort of a tweak, but it works for me: just about the first thing i did when i got this shiny new windows 10 computer was to disable the wireless adapter. when i want to be online, i reboot the computer off of a linux mint live dvd. this keeps me from having to run a bunch resource-hogging anti-virus programs all the time and prevents microsoft from screwing up my system with those awful updates it shoves down everyone’s throats. it also means i’m not under surveillance by microsoft (and whatever nefarious government agencies they may be in bed with) and i don’t have to deal with all those money-grubbing intrusions. my method of running the computer off a dvd is kind of a pain (passwords don’t get saved, browser settings don’t get saved), but it’s well worth it in order to keep my windows 10 out of harm’s way.

    also, thank you for this guide

  6. Hi,

    Do you have tweak like Winbubble so that many unnecessary things can be removed? I’m your very old fan long back from Digit forum.

  7. Suddenly the Print Pictures Wizard (right click on a picture or a few pictures, and selecting Print) is not working, the prints are sent straight to the printer..

    Ideas?

    Thanks.

  8. This is my list of absolute bare minimal Win10 services for personal home/individual users (not enterprise/corportate duties, remote cloud assistance or others or advanced network resources) to fully operate at the fastest speed possible without compromising safety, security and productivity. This configuration is perfect for low-end machines on personal productivity tasks such as streaming, office, email, teleconferencing, social networks, printing, scanning, gaming, programming, etc. This configuration is perfect for low-spec netbooks, tablet-laptops and old machines. Hope it helps:

    Nomenclature:

    – (I) Immovable. Windows fixed grayed-out, restricted to disable.
    – (P) Priority. Essential for proper functionallity.
    – (O) Optional. Recommended for specific tasks but not critical.

    Windows 10 Services:

    – (I) Application Identity
    – (I) AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC)
    – (P) Windows Audio Endpoint Builder (audio enhance)
    – (P) Windows Audio (audio enhance)
    – (I) Background Tasks Infrastructure Service
    – (I) Client License Service (ClipSVC)
    – (I) CoreMessaging
    – (P) Cryptographic Services (critical for trusted certification, activates automatically)
    – (P) Device Association Service (critical for boot/sleep modes functionallity)
    – (O) Device Install Service (mobile – ADB interface – devices recognition/installation)
    – (P) DHCP Client (WiFi dependable)
    – (I) Enterprise App Management Service
    – (P) Windows Event Log (WiFi dependable)
    – (I) Group Policy Client
    – (I) Local Session Manager
    – (O) Windows Firewall (security dependable, activates automatically)
    – (I) Windows Installer
    – (P) Network List Service (depends on DHCP Client)
    – (I) Microsoft Passport Container
    – (I) Microsoft Passport
    – (P) Network Location Awareness (depends on DHCP Client)
    – (P) Network Store Interface Service (WiFi dependable)
    – (P) Power (boot/sleep fundamental)
    – (I) RPC Endpoint Mapper
    – (I) Task Scheduler
    – (O) Print Spooler (printer services dependable)
    – (I) State Repository Service
    – (I) System Events Broker
    – (I) Tile Data model server
    – (I) Time Broker
    – (P) Windows Connection Manager (WiFi dependable)
    – (P) WLAN AutoConfig (WiFi critical)
    – (O) Windows Driver Foundation (enhance USB-to-VGA external monitors and special drivers)
    – (I) CDPUserSvc_3c43b
    – (I) MessagingService_3c43b
    – (I) all immovable ‘_3c43b’ sub-services.

  9. How to make the Windows 10 fastest machine ever:

    This methodology if focused mostly on low-end machines under standard productivity tasks such as streaming, office, email, teleconferencing, social networks, printing, scanning, gaming, programming, etc. It is not intended for enterprise/corportate duties, remote cloud assistance or others advanced tasks. It is the end result of long cycles of trial/error evaluations to reach the minimal services combo possible that consume the lowest resources from hardware components. It is perfect for low-spec netbooks, low-range laptops and old machines.

    1.- Download Win10 MiniOS Ver. 2018.06. Note the built-in package is in Spanish by default but offers the possibility to shift to other language after installation. Ensure first that your computer architecture is either UEFI or BIOS based:

    – For BIOS skim, download the supplied version ‘ MINI OS EDICION ESTANDAR LTSB, 32 Y 64 BITS ( SIN TIENDA DE APPS, LA MAS PRO ) ‘.
    – For UEFI skim, download the supplied version ‘ MINI OS EDICION UEFI LTSB 10 32 y 64 Bits (SIN TIENDA DE APPS) ‘.

    2.- Employ Rufus app to create a bootable USB drive from the downloaded ‘*.iso’ file.

    https://www.askvg.com/rufus-yet-another-free-portable-tool-to-create-bootable-usb-drive-to-install-windows-and-linux/

    3.- Install a fresh copy of ‘Win10 MiniOS Ver. 2018.06’ on your computer.

    4.- Update drivers automatically via Windows Update.

    5.- If needed, customize base language from the default Spanish to other via ‘Start -> Settings -> Time & Language -> Region & Language -> Language -> Add a language’.

    6.- Apply the following absolute bare minimal Win10 services configuration to fully operate at the fastest speed possible without compromising safety, security and productivity. Go to ‘Start -> Run -> msconfig -> Services” and disable all except the following services, then reboot the system:

    Nomenclature:

    – (I) Immovable. Windows fixed grayed-out, restricted to disable.
    – (P) Priority. Essential for proper functionallity.
    – (O) Optional. Recommended for specific tasks but not critical.

    Windows 10 services:

    – (I) Application Identity
    – (I) AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC)
    – (P) Windows Audio Endpoint Builder (audio enhance)
    – (P) Windows Audio (audio enhance)
    – (I) Background Tasks Infrastructure Service
    – (I) Client License Service (ClipSVC)
    – (I) CoreMessaging
    – (P) Cryptographic Services (critical for trusted certification, activates automatically)
    – (P) Device Association Service (critical for boot/sleep modes functionallity)
    – (O) Device Install Service (mobile – ADB interface – devices recognition/installation)
    – (P) DHCP Client (WiFi dependable)
    – (I) Enterprise App Management Service
    – (P) Windows Event Log (WiFi dependable)
    – (I) Group Policy Client
    – (I) Local Session Manager
    – (O) Windows Firewall (security dependable, activates automatically)
    – (I) Windows Installer
    – (P) Network List Service (depends on DHCP Client)
    – (I) Microsoft Passport Container
    – (I) Microsoft Passport
    – (P) Network Location Awareness (depends on DHCP Client)
    – (P) Network Store Interface Service (WiFi dependable)
    – (P) Power (boot/sleep fundamental)
    – (I) RPC Endpoint Mapper
    – (I) Task Scheduler
    – (O) Print Spooler (printer services dependable)
    – (I) State Repository Service
    – (I) System Events Broker
    – (I) Tile Data model server
    – (I) Time Broker
    – (P) Windows Connection Manager (WiFi dependable)
    – (P) WLAN AutoConfig (WiFi critical)
    – (O) Windows Driver Foundation (enhance USB-to-VGA external monitors and special drivers)
    – (I) CDPUserSvc_#####
    – (I) MessagingService_#####
    – (I) all immovable ‘_#####’ sub-services.

    Note: In case of unexpected conflicts or missing components in the system, simply enable back all services and reboot the system.

  10. Thank you so much sir VG. Your steps gives new life to my poor outdated Windows laptop. Now I can work faster without any problem. My sentences are not enough to say thanks, but again I will say thank you so much. You proved that new thinks not always good, but good thinks makes everything new.

  11. Thank you for these helpful improvements to Windows 10.
    There are a lot of hidden secrets to any O.S, and this kind of help speed up Windows 10 O.S.!
    With some tweaks, trials and errors a user can learn how to improve the overall speed of Windows O.S. especially the perplexing registry editing.
    Regards.
    J.S.

  12. But 1 question, how to taskbar look and right click in classic style? With your help, I got some classic thinks like MS Paint, MS Word and Classic Calculator, but I want to get classic taskbar and right click options in Windows 10

  13. Thanks for help, but I am facing a small problem. According to your instructions all unnecessary animation effects are disabled, but Windows 10 ” welcome screen (which is password protected) ” still using default animation effects. I mean before start Windows 10 and after sign out (log off) windows, Windows using default animation effects in lock screen. When I click switch button of lock screen(for sleep, shut down and restart), then animation effects appear.
    I am using Acer Aspire E5-511 laptop which support 2 GB RAM and old Pentium processor.
    So my question ” is it possible to disable animation effect of welcome screen? If yes! then please tell me how? Or Is this problem related from driver or hardware? ”
    Windows 10 and 8.1 both using animation effects in welcome screen.

  14. Hello sir.

    Your steps are awesome, I want to share an additional step which may help to speed up your provided steps in this page(for Windows 10), it may also works in Windows 7 and 8.1 but I only tested in Windows 10.

    Turn off unnecessary animations in one click using Gode Mode(Master Control Panel)
    1. Copy one of the provided text below (already provided by AskVG):

    GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

    or

    MasterControlPanel.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

    2. Right click on desktop and select “new > folder” and press Ctrl+V button to paste and press “Enter” botton.
    3. Now you will see unnamed icon looks like control panel, but actually it’s a Master Control Panel (God Mode), you can rename later.
    4. Now open God Mode by double click, look search bar in up-right corner, now type “turn off unnecessary animations” and press “Enter”.
    5. Now you will see an option “turn off unnecessary animations”, double click to open this.
    (If this option not showing, then type “optimize for blindness” or type “accomodate low vision” in search bar and open this).
    6. Now check an option “turn off all unnecessary animations (when possible) ” and click Apply > OK.
    7. If already check, then uncheck this and click Apply > OK , then again check this and click Apply > OK.
    8. Restart your computer to see changes(Optional Step if this trick does not work quickly).

  15. A little improvement, for you to disable all the animations, try Control Panel\Ease of Access\Ease of Access Center\Make the computer easier to see , Check the Turn off all unnecessary animations (when possible) then save it, This is better because if you do it from The UWP Settings app, you still have the zoom animation if you go to the settings categories, if you do it like i mention above, it will also disable the zoom animation if you go to the settings categories.

  16. Mexirony please Win10 MiniOS Ver. 2018.06,
    I wonder if this system works with Quick Start and Hibernation?
    Thank you!!!

  17. I ould like to control the placement of the icons on my screen.
    I am not a techy when it comes to computers so I do not know how to do this.
    I have another lap top that does it already.

    Marjorie

  18. ^^ If you are talking about desktop, right-click and uncheck “View -> Auto arrange icons” option.

  19. woah what a great and detailed article. my low end pc became very fast to hold my daily workloads

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