If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, follow and like us on Twitter and Facebook. With our pick of the best free PC optimization software, you can give your PC's performance a noticeable boost.
Free PC optimization software can't solve obsolescence — if your computer is struggling to meet the system requirements for your OS or apps that's a job for more RAM or the addition of an SSD — but if the slowdown is software-related, it can really help. It's worth noting that you can do much of what these free PC optimization apps do yourself using Windows' built-in system maintenance tools, but that's time consuming; what's really being sold here is convenience.
If you want more features, many of these free PC optimization tools also have premium counterparts that can perform more advanced tasks, and offer additional tools like secure file deletion and scheduled scans. Iolo System Mechanic removes junk files and unwanted apps, blocks bloatware and unwanted auto-run settings, clears out RAM and wipes various logs, browser histories and caches. Not only does this free up key system resources, it also eliminates traces of your browsing activity to protect your privacy.
Its PC optimization toolkit really does make a difference; whenever we've tested System Mechanic we've found a significant speed improvement, especially at startup.
The genuine performance boost we saw after running System Mechanic made it our favorite system optimization tool. Read on for four more of the best apps around for speeding up your Windows PC. Whichever edition you choose, IObit Advanced SystemCare's interface is well designed, easy to use and unlikely to frighten even the newest PC user.
We'd deduct points for an installer that wants to add additional programs - that's hardly in keeping with the philosophy of keeping unwanted stuff off your computer - but they're easy to avoid if you choose a custom installation. Like most of the free PC optimization software here, it cleans up files and folders you don't need, neatens up the Windows registry and corrects errors on your hard drive — all via a simple, slick dashboard. Piriform CCleaner has been around for a long time, and part of the reason for its ongoing popularity is that it cleans the parts of your PC that many other free system optimization tools don't.
There's a paid-for version of the optimization toolkit that adds real time protection and cleanup scheduling, but the free edition of CCleaner covers the important stuff such as removing temporary files, getting rid of browser caches, removing unwanted cookies while keeping the useful ones and so on. If your PC just feels sluggish then this is the free PC optimization software to try first. It doesn't have all the advanced features of apps like System Mechanic, but the stuff it does clear is famous for slowing down PCs.
Ashampoo WinOptimizer 's biggest selling point is its flexibility — you can scan for junk files, broken registry entries and browser cookies with a single click, and erase them all with one more. Alternatively, you can dive deeper by selecting the 'Details' button to review the results of your scan one by one.
Unlike some PC optimization tools, Ashampoo WinOptimizer gives you a full description of each issue it's identified, explaining exactly what it is, and why you should consider removing it. You can then make an informed decision about whether to erase or keep it.
WinOptimizer also includes a suite of 'modules' for routine maintenance tasks like defragging hard drives and optimizing startup processes.
These are all tasks that could be accomplished within Windows itself, but having them all in one location is much more convenient than trawling through menus. In case you're wondering, Ashampoo takes its name from this optimization software, which cleans your PC 'like a shampoo'. If your system struggles when you're trying to get your game on, Razer Cortex could well be the answer. Try Avira Now. Norton offers excellent device tune-up options as well as powerful real-time protections that can remove malware, PUPs, and adware — all of which can cause severe system slowdown.
During my tests, the disk optimization tool defragmented my disk in just a few minutes, and my PC ran more smoothly afterward. It displays records including firewall notifications, malware scans, file cleanup, disk optimization, and more, in an easy-to-understand graph format.
Norton also has the best anti-malware engine on the market — it can detect all types of malware, including cryptojackers and spyware, which are frequently the reason behind slow-running devices. All of the Norton plans include the full suite of cleanup and optimization tools.
However, Norton Deluxe is the best value — it covers up to 5 devices and includes the best antivirus on the market and all of the PC optimization tools, plus a huge range of other features, like parental controls and backup cloud storage. Try Norton Now. The TotalAV interface is very simple, which I really appreciate. It makes it easy to find and use these cleanup and optimization tools.
The browser cleanup removes web browser history and cookies from your system, which helps with performance as well as protecting your online privacy. The application uninstaller also made removing unwanted and unused programs from my computer really simple. In addition to the optimization tools, TotalAV comes with a powerful malware scanner that is able to effectively detect a wide range of malware, including PUPs and adware. Getting these hidden files off your device can make a huge difference in system performance, plus it will protect you against security threats.
TotalAV also offers excellent real-time anti-malware protection, which can detect and remove PUPs, adware, and malware files that can heavily impact system performance. Try TotalAV Now. The star optimization feature for BullGuard is the game booster. Game booster redirects system processes on multi-core processors so that high-performance games can occupy multiple cores without any interference.
Premium Protection covers 10 devices, making it a good offer for larger households, but if 3 devices is enough, then Internet Security is your best-value plan.
All BullGuard purchases come with a day money-back guarantee. BullGuard provides decent PC cleanup tools, a powerful game booster, and a good anti-malware scanner. Try BullGuard Now. The scan only took a couple of minutes and flagged almost 1. After I deleted these files, my PC was noticeably faster and more responsive. Bitdefender offers a variety of plans, but the OneClick Optimizer is only included in its premium plan, Total Security. Total Security is an excellent internet security suite — it covers up to 5 devices, comes with a huge number of additional security features, and is one of the best value premium anti-malware programs in Bitdefender provides fast PC cleanup and optimization and excellent antivirus detection.
Try Bitdefender Now. Kaspersky has a compact suite of system cleanup tools that are helpful in protecting online privacy and keeping your PC free of unnecessary files. During my tests, all of the cleaners only took a few minutes to analyze my system and flag items that could be removed. For each item, I could either delete, ignore, or do an online search to get more information about it.
Kaspersky has a great virus scanner that uses a large database and cloud-based machine learning to detect all types of malware, including PUPs, spyware, and adware that can slow down a device. Kaspersky offers 3 different plans, all of which include the system cleanup tools. This free PC optimizer suspends unnecessary system processes, clears out memory and defrags your system to get the very best game performance possible.
Razer Cortex is available for Windows 7, 8 and 10, and while the differences won't make you jump up and down in astonishment - for most people the results will mean slightly smoother visuals rather than astonishing performance improvements - it does automate the fiddly process of turning off unnecessary software and services when it's time to play.
Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related.
If you have a story about an updated app or one that's about to launch, drop him a line. North America. There are many free PC cleaners and optimizers that claim to deliver noticeably faster performance, but not all live up to the hype. View Deal. Iolo System Mechanic. Specifications Operating system: Windows. Reasons to avoid - Some features premium-only. Reasons to avoid - Limited free version. A hands-off approach to optimization that's ideal for novice users.
Reasons to avoid - Can't exclude individual files - Extra software in installer. Piriform CCleaner. Eliminate unnecessary files, clean the registry and manage apps. Reasons to avoid - Duplicates many Windows tools. Ashampoo WinOptimizer Reasons to avoid - Adds store links to desktop. Razer Cortex. Reasons to avoid - Contains some unnecessary extras.
0コメント