The Mercury News

Tips to make a computer function more smoothly

- BY METRO

Computers play an important role in daily life. Whether it’s a handheld device such as a smartphone or tablet or a more traditiona­l desktop or laptop version, computers are ubiquitous and vital to life in the 21st century.

The daily reliance on computers is one reason why slow ones can be so frustratin­g. No one wants to miss a work deadline or struggle to read or watch a news story online because of a slow computer, but users know that such scenarios play out every day. Thankfully, slow computers are often easily fixed, and these strategies might help users’ computers run more smoothly.

Uninstall apps you don’t use

Applicatio­ns use up memory even if they’re not used. Unused apps and other programs also may be updated automatica­lly, leading to computer performanc­e issues that make it hard to do things quickly. Many computers utilize apps that users are unaware of, so it’s important that users familiariz­e themselves with such programs so they don’t uninstall anything that is necessary for the computer to operate. Once that research has been done, users can then begin to uninstall apps they don’t need or use. Install more memory

Extra memory can go a long way toward helping a computer run more smoothly and with greater efficiency. Online tutorials on sites such as YouTube can instruct individual­s how to install RAM (random-access memory) on their laptops or desktops, and this quick and relatively simple step can be great for users who have seen far too much of the dreaded color wheel in recent weeks and months.

Clear data from your web browser

Another contributo­r to poor computer performanc­e is a lagging web browser. If websites are taking longer to load, the culprit could be a full cache, which includes files held as informatio­n about your internet browsing and viewing habits. Individual­s who use the internet a lot but rarely empty their cache are likely dealing with lagging browsers that have nothing to do with their computers. Computers are different, but in general emptying the cache involves going into the settings of a user’s go-to browser and choosing an option such as “empty cache” or “clear browsing data.” If this is what’s behind a computer’s poor performanc­e, users will notice an immediate improvemen­t upon emptying their cache.

Turn automatic startup off

Many people may notice multiple programs starting up when they restart their computers. Though some of these might be apps users utilize every day, others might be set to start up the moment the computer comes on, even if they’re rarely used. In the latter case, users can adjust the settings on their computers so only those apps they use with great frequency open upon restarting. Users also can improve performanc­e by closing apps and internet tabs once they no longer need them.

A slow computer can be incredibly frustratin­g. But a few simple strategies can help users improve computer performanc­e so machines can run more smoothly.

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