A personal computer is one of the most powerful tools known to man. Its importance cannot be overemphasized and its applications are limitless.

PCs might be the best tool with great technology around because this technology is constantly evolving. Due to the complex nature of this technology, it might behave unexpectedly. Sometimes your PC may run slowly due to one reason or the other.

Before we talk about how to make your PC run faster, let’s look at the possible reasons it could be running slowly.

1. Low RAM:

The RAM is a temporary storage for all current applications running on the computer. It is also known as volatile memory. A PC or laptop must have adequate random access memory (RAM) in order to operate efficiently. Your computer’s open applications are all vying for RAM. As RAM begins to deplete, your CPU becomes overloaded, causing programs to stutter, freeze, or crash totally.

2. Prolonged usage without restart:

PC is a machine that does not feel. It doesn’t have emotional. However, this does not mean that the components do not stress its operational limit. Prolonged usage without a restart can make the computer slow. This is mostly due to the fact that several programs operate in the background when you use your computer. When too many of these background processes are left running, they eventually use a significant amount of your computer’s resources, slowing it down over time.

3. Overheating:

when the computer’s cooling system has failed, it could make the computer run slower than usual. Computers are complex machines that generate a lot of heat, so failure of the cooling system could lead to lags in computer operations. Overheating can slow down performance in addition to potentially causing long-term harm to your computer’s circuit boards and other parts. Because of a safety feature known as thermal throttling, current CPUs are set up to automatically slow down as internal temperatures rise.

4. Virus or Malware:

Viruses can appear in a variety of ways, such as random pop-up windows or by secretly encrypting data. Additionally, malware that operate covertly in the background can be using your resources. Your computer will undoubtedly run more slowly if it has been infected with a virus or other harmful software.

5. Outdated Software:

outdated operating systems and software do not have the recent updates. These updates could include drivers, security patches etc. Updates bring in bug fixes and other components that are up to date with the latest requirements for what your computer needs to run.

6. Low hard drive space:

Although the hard drive is often thought of as the computer's long-term memory, this is not the only purpose for which it is employed. Temporary files that support seamless program operation are also kept on your hard disk. The hard disk of a computer is frequently one of the main causes of poor performance. In addition, if the hard drive is maxed out, it could make the computer to crash. This is because there wouldn’t be any memory space left to load the operating system during booting. 

7. Running too many applications at the same time:

Your Random Access Memory (RAM) is occupied to a certain extent by all open applications and active programs. If you have too many of them open at once, your computer won’t have enough memory or processing capacity to switch between programs or tabs without any noticeable hiccups.

8. Hidden background processes:

There may occasionally be applications using a significant amount of RAM and processing power in the background without your notice. These may be background-running applications in a loop or programs that met an error but did not entirely shut down.

9. Frequently and Unnecessary Software Updates:

To keep your installed programs operating efficiently and securely, you must regularly update your software. However, some of these apps have pre-installed automatic updates that continue to operate in the background unnecessarily, using important disk space and slowing down your computer.

Now that we know why your computer may be running slow, let us look at the possible solutions to solve these problems.

• Restart or shut down your computer frequently. When they are not using their computer, many users make the mistake of leaving it “on” and in hibernation mode rather than really turning it off. Since you won’t have to go through the complete starting procedure every time you open your computer, this may be really convenient. However, you should plan to shut down your computer fully at least once a week so that it can clear temporary data and start over. Restart your computer after closing any open applications and files. Additionally, make sure you always opt to restart your PC at that time when a software installation or upgrade prompts you to do so.
• Upgrade your RAM. Random access memory, or RAM, is largely responsible for your computer’s performance. This enables your computer to carry out several tasks at once while storing data in a sort of temporary memory. You’ll be able to run more processes at once the more RAM you have. Almost any computer, even one that is many years old, might be significantly improved in performance by upgrading from 2 GB to 4 GB or 8 GB.
• Disable Auto Start Up programs: When your computer first starts up, several apps will launch automatically. Once more, this function was created with ease in mind, preventing the user from having to launch the application from scratch. However, if your computer starts up with too many apps running, it will use up all of your resources and you won’t be able to accomplish anything.
• Uninstall unused programs: Installed programs on your computer can also slow the system down. uninstall programs that haven’t been used in the a while or programs that you don’t need anymore.
• Regularly update the operating system: Your operating system may sometimes be updated to make a slow machine run faster. Bug fixes and security patches are frequently included in these updates, helping to keep your device secure and up to date. It’s crucial to keep in mind that on some older devices, this step can have the opposite effect. For instance, a new software update could include more features and applications that an older device would find difficult to use. Before upgrading, do some research on the suggested computer specifications for your safety.
• Using an anti-virus: Anti-virus is necessary. This is because it would help detect and remove viruses that make your system run slowly. In addition to this, users should ensure that they frequently update viruses definitions to enable the anti-virus do the work better.

With any luck, these techniques will improve your PC’s performance and significantly increase its longevity.