This article will outline some basic and easy steps you can take to improve performance on your Dell laptop.
The Helpdesk will happily assist with this process if you do not feel comfortable completing any of the steps below. 


Adjust power settings for better performance

Your Dell laptop's power settings can significantly impact its performance. To make sure it runs at its best, adjust your power settings to prioritize performance.

  1. Open the Start menu.
  2. Go to Settings > System > Power & battery.
  3. Under the Power Mode, choose Best performance on the Plugged in section to maximize speed and responsiveness.
    1. It is recommended to choose Best Power Efficiency under the On battery section if you spend a lot of time on battery power, such as in meetings or traveling.
    2. If you spend most of your time docked/plugged in, and only expect to be on battery for short stints, you can try out Balanced or Best Performance here.

Turn off unnecessary startup programs

To speed up your computer's initial boot up you can disable any unneeded startup programs. To disable unnecessary startup programs:

  1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
    1. or right click on your task bar and select Task Manager
  2. Click the Startup apps tab on the left, and disable programs you don’t need to start automatically.
    1. By default IT has disabled most programs you do not need. This step is only necessary if you've installed various additional applications that you may use occasionally, but do not need launching on startup. 
      1. For example, if your clients do not require you to us Microsoft Teams, Find teams on the list, and right click, then select disable.


How to manage background processes

Background programs and processes can consume valuable system resources and slow your laptop down.

  1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
  2. Click the Processestab to view running applications. End any tasks that use excessive resources and aren’t essential to your current work.
    1. You can sort by CPU or Memory to find out which applications are using the most system resources.


Free up disk space

Your laptop needs space to manage temporary files and system processes, and a nearly full disk can make this harder. If your laptop is a little sluggish, freeing up disk space can improve speed and efficiency.

  1. Clean up files
    1. Type “disk cleanup” into the search bar, and select the files you want to clean up. 
    2. Then, click Clean up system files, and follow the prompts to delete temporary files, system cache, and more.
  2. Uninstall unnecessary programs
    1. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features. 
    2. Browse the list and remove unnecessary programs.

Update drivers and system software

Update your system to resolve any issues that outdated drivers and system software could cause.

  1. Type "Check for updates" in the search bar, and select the Check for Updates system settings app that shows up.
    1. Click the Check for Updates button and let the system download and install any pending updates.
    2. If you are experiencing any hardware or software issues, you can also check for optional updates by clicking Advanced Options
      1. Click Optional Updates
      2. Click Driver Updates
      3. Select the updates you want to install and click Download & Install
  2. If you have any installed but pending updates, you may choose to Restart Now or wait until after business hours for a restart.


If you require any further assistance speeding up your laptop, please reach out to [email protected] for assistance.