How to speed up a slow Windows by disabling visual effects and startup programs

Informatec Digital » Resources » How to speed up a slow Windows by disabling visual effects and startup programs

If your Windows PC takes forever to boot, windows open in fits and starts, and even the mouse seems to be moving at a snail's pace, it's very likely that the problem isn't just the age of the computer. Windows can become slow due to visual effects, programs that load at startup and a bunch of background tasks which, added together, eat up your resources without you even noticing.

The good news is that almost all of that can be fixed with a few adjustments. Disable animations, limit startup programs, clean the system, and optimize energy. This can make a huge difference on low-resource systems and also on more modern computers that have accumulated junk files over time. Let's look at it step by step, from the simplest to the most advanced.

Update Windows and drivers before touching anything.

Although what you're looking for is Speed ​​up Windows by disabling visual effects and startup programsIt's best to start with the basics: make sure your system is up to date. Often, an update fixes performance issues, driver errors, or security problems that can cause slowdowns.

To check this in Windows 10 and Windows 11, open the Go to Windows Settings and enter the "Update & Security" or "Windows Update" section. Depending on the version. From there you can see if there are any updates pending installation.

Within Windows Update, click on “Check for updates” to have the system download and install the latest patchesIf you see a message like "You're up to date," also check the optional updates section, where drivers or improvements that are not automatically installed sometimes appear.

In the optional updates link, Check if there are any hardware drivers recommended by Microsoft or the manufacturer.They are not critical for the computer to function, but they can provide an improvement in stability and performance, especially in graphics cards, chipsets, or network adapters.

Remove programs and applications you don't use

Over time, your PC fills up with software you no longer use: program trials, manufacturer tools, old games… The more applications you have installed, the more background processes and services can load at startup.making everything heavier.

In Windows 10 and 11, go to the In Settings, go to “Applications” and then to “Installed applications”There you will see a list of all the software you have on your computer, from system tools to third-party programs.

Locate the ones you know you no longer need and, using the three-dot menu or the right-click, Choose the "Uninstall" option to completely remove them from the systemBe careful not to delete system applications or manufacturer utilities that you actually use, such as hardware support or management tools.

If you still use the classic Control Panel, you can also go to “Programs and features” > “Uninstall a program” to do the same from the traditional viewpoint. This method is useful for removing old pre-installed "junk". (bloatware) that came standard with the PC.

Keep your desktop and temporary files clean.

It sounds silly, but in teams with limited resources, Loading dozens of icons and shortcuts onto the desktop can slow down the login process.Every element you see on the screen is another object that Windows has to draw and manage.

Try grouping shortcuts into one or two folders and Leave your desktop as clear as possible to reduce the initial loadIf you have many loose files, move them to Documents, Downloads, or a better-organized custom folder.

Another important point is cleaning up temporary files. Windows includes its own tool for this, the Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr), which helps you delete remnants of updates, thumbnails and temporary files from the Internet or applications.

To use it, open the Start menu, type “cleanmgr” and run the program as administrator. Select the drive you want to clean and wait for Windows to calculate what can be erased.Then check the boxes for the file types you don't need and confirm with "OK".

In addition to that, in Windows 11 you have the “Storage Sense” within Settings > System > Storage, which automates the deletion of temporary files, trash, and files from the Downloads folder according to your preferences, keeping the system lighter without you having to remember to clean manually.

Control the programs that run at startup

One of the main reasons why Windows runs "in slow motion" is the number of applications that load as soon as the PC is turned on. The more programs that start with the system, the more memory and CPU are consumed from the very first minute.And the longer it will take to let you work smoothly.

You have two main ways to manage this. From Modern Settings, go to “Applications” and then “Home”There you will see a list of apps that run automatically when you turn on your computer, with a switch to turn them on or off.

Pay special attention to the ones the system marks with “Startup impact” high or mediumBecause these are the things that most weigh down Windows. Disable anything that isn't essential, such as messaging clients you don't use regularly, automatically updating applications, or third-party services you only need occasionally.

The other way is the Task ManagerOpen it with Ctrl + Shift + Esc (or Ctrl + Alt + Delete and then "Task Manager") and, once expanded to full view, go to the "Startup applications" or "Startup" section. From there you can disable programs by right-clicking > "Disable".

After making changes to this list, Restart your PC to see how much the boot time and login smoothness have improved.In many systems, this adjustment alone makes a noticeable difference.

Disable Windows visual effects and animations

Windows 10 and Windows 11 come loaded with animations, shadows, transparencies, and other aesthetic details designed to make everything look beautiful and modern. The problem is that, On systems with limited RAM or a modest GPU, these effects can consume a valuable portion of resources..

The most complete configuration is in the System properties, within the advanced performance optionsThe quickest way to get there is to press the Windows key, type “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows,” and open the result that appears, where you will also find key tips and settings to improve productivity.

The “Performance Options” window will open, located in the tab of “Visual effects” with a checklistHere you can choose "Adjust for best performance", which disables virtually all graphical embellishments, or use "Customize" and go through them one by one, checking and unchecking each one.

If you prefer to access it from the classic panel, go to “Advanced system settings” (right-click on “This PC” > “Properties” > “Advanced system settings”), go to the “Advanced” tab and click the button “Settings” in the “Performance” sectionYou will arrive at the same visual effects window.

On older or very basic computers, it's usually worthwhile to select the performance-oriented options, leaving only a few details active so that the system doesn't look like it's from Windows 98. The fewer effects Windows activates, the lighter the graphics load will be and the faster the experience will be when opening, moving, or minimizing windows..

Which visual effects should be disabled (and which should be kept)

If you don't want to let Windows decide for you, you can configure the visual effects in detail. Some animations significantly impact fluidity, while others consume very few resources but improve readability.so it is important to distinguish between them.

In the list on the “Visual Effects” tab, it’s usually a good idea to disable options such as “Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing”, “Animations in the taskbar” and “Animate controls and elements within windows”These are the ones you'll notice the most when you remove them, because everything becomes more direct and less "smooth," but the desktop gains agility.

However, there are a couple of boxes that are worth leaving checked. For example, “Smoothing edges for screen fonts” helps make text more readableEspecially if you work long hours in front of a monitor. Turning it off makes the letters look rougher and can strain your eyes more.

It is also often useful to keep “Show thumbnails instead of icons”If you uncheck this option, you'll no longer see photo and video previews in folders, and only generic icons will appear. The performance impact is minimal, but you lose a lot of convenience when managing media files.

You can experiment with the other options: Try different combinations and stick with the balance that offers you the best performance without ruining the system's appearance too much.The good thing is that the whole process is reversible; if you don't like something, you just remark it and that's it.

Remove transparencies and animations from Settings

In addition to the advanced panel, Windows offers quick access to some of these effects from the Settings app. It's a good way to Disable animations and transparencies without getting into overly technical menusespecially in Windows 11.

In Windows 11, open Settings with Windows + I and enter "Accessibility"Inside, scroll down to the "Simplify and personalize Windows" section and disable the options “Display animations in Windows” and “Display transparencies in Windows”.

By doing this, you'll notice that the windows stop smoothly appearing and disappearing, and that the menus and translucent elements become solid. The interface may seem more abrupt, but the system gains speed by not having to calculate those effects. every time you open a menu or move a window.

Regarding colors, you can go to “Personalization > Colors” Turn off the "Transparency effects" switch for the Start menu, taskbar, and other surfacesIt's another small resource saving that, added to the other adjustments, helps to lighten the desktop.

This type of change is most noticeable in modest laptops or PCs with older integrated graphics, where Any extra load on the GPU or CPU results in minor stutters and slowdowns when navigating the system.

Does disabling visual effects in Windows really make a difference?

There are quite a few myths surrounding this topic. Not all the tricks you read about are actually useful, and You're not going to turn an old computer into a gaming beast just by removing animations.Even so, there is potential for improvement in certain situations.

On modern computers with plenty of RAM and a good graphics card, Most desktop effects are processed with hardware accelerationThis means that tasks are delegated to the GPU and don't put as much strain on the CPU or memory, so the actual impact on performance is small.

However, if your PC is old, with a very basic integrated graphics card and 4 GB of RAM or less, Every animation and every transparency adds up, and the feeling of fluidity can be greatly improved by disabling them.It's not magic, but it helps the system run less slowly when you're constantly opening and closing windows.

There is also a psychological component: Because there are no slow transitions, Windows' response feels more immediate.Even if the actual workload is similar, if the windows appear instantly, you notice that the PC "runs faster".

So, in short, if your hardware is powerful, you can maintain all the effects without fear. If your computer is running at its limit, disabling animations and visual embellishments is one of the first things you should try. before you consider changing components.

Turn off system notifications and sounds

Another small thief of resources and, above all, concentration, are notifications. Each notification involves a process that runs, a sound, a banner on the screen, and sometimes an application that activates in the background..

In Windows 10 and 11 you can control them from Settings, section “System” and then “Notifications” or “Notifications and actions”There you have a master switch to turn them all off at once, and a list of apps with their own individual switch.

The best option is to leave only them activated. the really important notifications (work email, security, some communication apps) and disable the rest. Fewer notifications mean fewer interruptions and less strain on the system.

You can also configure the mode “Do Not Disturb” or “Concentration Assistance” so that notifications are automatically silenced during certain times or when you are in full screen (games, video, presentations).

Although the impact on performance is not as great as that of visual effects or startup programs, Reducing background system noise makes everything feel lighter and less cluttered., both for the PC and for you.

Scan your PC for malware and resource-intensive software

If after all of the above the team is still running very slowly, it's time to rule out the possibility of unwanted guests. Viruses, Trojans, adware, or cryptocurrency miners can eat away at your CPU and hard drive without you noticing at first glance..

Windows includes its own antivirus, Windows Security (Windows Defender)That's more than enough for most users. You can open it from Settings > “Privacy and security” > “Windows Security” > “Open Windows Security”.

In the “Antivirus and threat protection” section, start a “Quick screening” to detect the most obvious threatsIf you suspect something serious or it's been a long time since you last scanned your PC, go to "Scan Options" and run a full scan, even though it will take considerably longer.

If the scan doesn't find anything wrong but the PC is still stuttering, open the Open Task Manager and check the "Processes" or "Performance" tab.Sort by CPU, memory, or disk usage and see if any specific programs are hogging resources for no reason.

If you have little RAM available, with usage almost always at 80-90%, There's not much of a trick to it: either you close "power-hungry" applications or you consider upgrading your memory.If you use Chrome, Reduce RAM usage in Google Chrome This might help. Windows can use virtual memory, but when it does so excessively, you'll notice that everything is choppy because the system is constantly reading and writing to the disk.

Virtual memory and advanced performance settings

In addition to physical RAM, Windows uses a portion of the disk as virtual memory (page file) To expand, to a certain extent, the available memory. Adjusting its size can help slightly if you're running very low on resources.

To change it, open the advanced system properties (for example, from Settings > System > Information > “Advanced system settings”) and in the “Advanced Options” tab, click the “Settings” button in the “Performance” section.

In the new window, go back to the “Advanced Options” tab and, in the block of “Virtual memory” click on “Change”Uncheck the "Automatically manage" box if you want to set the sizes yourself and select the drive where you want to store the paging file.

You can set a custom initial and maximum size, increasing, for example, by 1000 or 2000 MB (1-2 GB) compared to the defaultIt doesn't work miracles, but it can reduce crashes and slowdowns a bit when you're running low on RAM.

Keep in mind, however, that Virtual memory will always be much slower than physical RAM.Especially if you have a mechanical hard drive. It's a useful workaround, but it doesn't replace installing more memory if your PC usage requires it.

Change the power plan and activate maximum performance mode

By default, Windows usually uses a balanced power plan that prioritizes energy savings over pure performanceespecially in laptops. This involves lowering processor frequencies, putting disks and GPUs into idle mode, and other strategies to reduce power consumption.

If your priority is to make your PC run as fast as possible, go to the classic Control Panel and navigate to “Hardware and sound” > “Power options”There you can select the "High performance" plan or, if available, a manufacturer-specific performance-oriented mode.

In some versions of Windows there is also a “Maximum performance mode” which further squeezes the hardware, and features such as Smart charging in Windows 11 They help manage resources. If it doesn't appear in the list, you can enable it from Command Prompt as an administrator with the command:

powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61

After running it, return to the power options and select the "Maximum performance" plan. This mode keeps the processor at high frequencies, prevents the GPU from going into sleep mode, and reduces disk wait times., at the cost of using more energy and, in laptops, reducing battery life.

In a desktop PC that is permanently plugged in, the increased power consumption is not usually a serious problem, and Yes, you can notice some improvement in heavy tasks, with many programs open, or playing games.On a laptop, use it when you really need that extra power.

Defragment and optimize disk drives

If your computer still uses mechanical hard drives (HDDs), the way data is stored can significantly affect speed. Over time, files become fragmented into blocks scattered across the disk, increasing read times..

Windows includes the tool to “Defragment and optimize drives”You can find it by searching for “defragment” in the Start menu or from the disk properties, “Tools” tab, “Optimize” button.

Select the drive you want to optimize and first click on "Analyze" to see its statusIf the fragmentation percentage is high, click "Optimize" to start defragmentation. The process may take more or less time depending on the disk size and the level of fragmentation.

Keep in mind that Defragmentation is not recommended for SSD drives.Because its technology is different and traditional defragmentation offers no benefits, and may even slightly shorten its lifespan, Windows performs specific SSD optimizations (TRIM) that are already automated.

Performing this optimization on mechanical hard drives from time to time not only improves loading times, but also It reduces the mechanical work on the disc and can help extend its lifespan.especially if you use it intensively.

Check hardware: RAM, SSD, and physical cleanliness

There comes a point where, no matter how much you adjust visual effects, startup programs and power, the bottleneck is in the hardware itself. If your PC has little RAM, uses an old HDD, and is full of dust, software tricks will only go so far..

One of the most notable changes today is the move from a mechanical hard drive to a SSD (solid state drive)The operating system will boot much faster, programs will open in seconds, and general read/write tasks will be significantly accelerated.

It is also worth considering a RAM expansionFor basic use, 8 GB is almost the minimum reasonable amount; if you edit video, work with many tabs, or use resource-intensive tools, 16 GB or more makes a huge difference. On heavily loaded systems, upgrading to 32 GB can completely change the experience.

Don't forget the physical aspect: the dust accumulated in the tower, fans and heatsinks This causes the equipment to overheat, lower its operating frequency for thermal protection, and consequently, slow down. Regular, thorough cleaning helps both performance and lifespan.

If your computer is very old, with several obsolete components, Sometimes it makes more sense to consider buying a new piece of equipment. than to keep investing in individual parts. But even in those cases, applying the adjustments in this article can make the day-to-day easier until you take the plunge.

Combining all these measures—from keeping Windows up to date and controlling startup programs to disabling visual effects, adjusting power settings, cleaning up files, and checking hardware— You can transform a slow and cluttered Windows into a much more agile and stable system, adapted to the actual capabilities of your PC.without giving up what is essential and making the most of every available resource.