How to Fix Windows 8.1 Lags

Last Updated: August 6, 2015

Slow PCs represent one of the largest sources of questions on many Internet forums. If you’re an avid computer user, you most certainly have experienced Windows 8.1 lags and freezes. This article outlines tips and tricks to make your Windows 8.1 computer run faster.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Optimize System Settings for Best Performance

1
Right click the Computer icon on your Desktop.
2
Select Properties from the context menu.

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3
System page will open. Click "Advanced system settings" link.
4
In the System Properties dialog box, click Settings button under Performance frame.
5
In the Visual Effects tab select "Adjust for best performance" option. Windows will automatically uncheck all the checkboxes.
6
Click OK twice to save the settings and exit.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Optimize Drive Performance

1
Press Windows Key + C simultaneously. This will open the Charms Bar.
2
Click the Search icon.
3
Type "optimize" in the Search Box.
4
Click the Settings icon.
5
Open "Defragment and optimize your drives" from the Search Results page.
6
Optimize Drives application will list all the partitions in a list box. Select all the partitions, and then click the "Optimize" button.
- The process of defragmenting all drives will take several hours depending on the size of content stored on your your hard disk.
7
Click the "Change Settings" button. While waiting for the defragmentation, you can set up an optimization schedule.
8
Check the box named "Run on a schedule". Select the preferred frequency; for example, daily, weekly or monthly.
9
Select all the partitions for scheduled defragmentation. Click the OK button.
10
Do not close the program until the defragmentation process is completed.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Optimize System Startups & Services

1
Press Windows Key + X simultaneously.
2
Click Task Manager.
3
Click "More details' link.
4
Click the Startup tab.
5
Click the "Status" column to sort all the startup programs in a state-wise manner.
6
Disable all the Non-Microsoft programs except your Antivirus software. To disable an item, select it and click the Disable button.
7
Click the Services tab.
8
Stop all the Non-Microsoft services except those associated with your Antivirus. Right click a service name, select Stop option from the context menu.
9
Press Esc to exit Task Manager.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Clean the Hard Disk

1
Double click the Computer icon.
2
Right click a partition, for example, drive C:\
3
Select Properties from the right-click options menu.
4
Drive Properties dialog will open. Click the Disk CleanUp button under General tab.
5
Disk CleanUp will start analyzing the free and used disk space.
6
Check-up all the checkboxes and start the actual clean-up. The drive clean-up process may take several minutes.
7
Repeat the procedure for remaining partitions of your hard disk.