How to Declutter Windows 10

Decluttering is important for a computer’s performance because it removes unnecessary files and programs that take up valuable space and resources. This can lead to a slower system, longer load times, and even crashes. When a computer is cluttered with unused files, it has to work harder to find the files it needs to run efficiently. Additionally, decluttering can help prevent malware infections by removing potentially harmful files. By regularly decluttering your computer, you can improve its overall performance and extend its lifespan.

In this article, we will discuss some useful tips for decluttering your Windows 10 computer.

1. Uninstall unused programs

When a computer has too many programs installed, it can slow down the system and cause longer load times. Additionally, some programs run in the background even when not in use, taking up memory and processing power. So it’s best to remove old, large, and used applications to reduce the strain on your system’s resources.

Follow these steps to remove unnecessary software from your Windows 10 PC:

1. Click on the “Start” button located in the bottom left corner of your screen.
2. Click on the “Settings” icon (shaped like a gear).
3. In the Settings window, click on “Apps”. This will display a list of all installed programs on your computer.
4. Sort the list by “Size” to see which programs take up the most space on your computer.
5. Review the list of installed programs and look for any programs you don’t recognize or haven’t used in a long time.
   • Consider whether each program is still useful to you or if it is taking up valuable space on your hard drive.
   • If you’re unsure about a particular program, you can search online for more information about its purpose and whether it’s necessary for your computer.
   • If you share the computer with someone else, consult with them before removing a program you don’t recognize.
6. Select a program, click “Uninstall” and follow the prompts. Do this for each application eligible for removal.

Discover more ways to uninstall programs in Windows 10.

2. Delete temporary files and folders

It is important to delete these temporary files and folders from Windows 10 because they can take up valuable space on your hard drive, slowing down your computer’s performance. Temporary files and folders store information temporarily while a new file is being created or modified. These files can include cache files, log files, and other data that is not necessary for the functioning of your computer.

Follow these instructions to safely remove temporary files and folders from Windows 10 using the Disk Cleanup utility:

1. Type “Disk Cleanup” in the search bar on your taskbar and select it from the results.
2. Select the drive you want to clean up (usually C:).
3. Click on “Clean up system files.”
4. Check the box next to “Temporary files”. You can also check other boxes for other types of files you want to delete, such as Recycle Bin or Downloaded Program Files.
5. Click OK.
6. If prompted, click Delete Files. The Disk Cleanup utility will then scan your selected drive for unnecessary files and calculate how much space you can free up by deleting them.
7. Restart your computer to force Windows to recalculate disk space usage.

3. Organize desktop icons and folders

Organizing desktop icons and folders can have a significant impact on decluttering your Windows 10 desktop. For instance, you will quickly locate the files and apps you need without wasting time on the search function.

• Create new folders: Right-click on the desktop and select “New” > “Folder”. Give the folder a name and drag any relevant files or shortcuts into it.
• Rename files and folders: Right-click on a file or folder and select “Rename”. Give it a clear and concise name that describes its contents.
• Group similar items together: Drag related files or folders next to each other for easy access.
• Use desktop shortcuts wisely: Only keep frequently used programs or documents on the desktop. Move less-used items into organized folders.
• Adjust icon size and view settings: Right-click on the desktop, go to “View”, and select either “Large icons”, “Medium icons”, or “Small icons” depending on your preference. You can also align them to a grid for a cleaner look.
• Get rid of unnecessary items: Delete any icons, files, or folders that are no longer needed.

Discover more ways to personalize the Windows 10 desktop.

4. Declutter the Start Menu

To prevent a cluttered Start Menu from slowing down your computer, it’s recommended to keep it organized and free of unnecessary items. Here are some tips:

• Identify the apps that you use the most: Take a moment to think about the apps that you actually use on a regular basis. These are the ones that should stay on your start menu.
• Unpin unnecessary apps: Right-click on any app in your start menu and select “Unpin from Start” to remove it from the list.
• Use folders: If you have several similar apps, consider grouping them together in a folder. This will help keep things organized and make it easier to find what you need.
• Turn off live tiles: Live tiles can be useful for displaying real-time information, but they can also take up valuable space on your start menu. Consider turning off live tiles for any apps that you don’t need to see updates from.
• Customize your Start layout: Windows 10 allows you to customize your Start layout by exporting and importing a .xml file. This is particularly useful if you have multiple devices and want to keep a consistent layout across all of them.

5. Clean up startup programs

While startup programs are convenient since they automatically launch when you turn on the computer, having too many will harm its performance. Each application requires resources to run, such as RAM and CPU, and if your computer doesn’t have enough free resources left, it will become sluggish and take longer to boot.

Follow these steps to disable unnecessary startup programs:

1. Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc
2. Click on the “Start-up” tab
3. You will see a list of all the applications that launch at startup. Right-click on any application that you don’t need to launch automatically.
4. Select “Disable” from the context menu.

Discover more ways to disable startup apps.

6. Clear email clutter

A clean email inbox is important for decluttering Windows 10 since it helps you stay organized and reduce stress. It helps avoid missed deadlines, forgotten tasks, and lost business opportunities. Regularly cleaning out your inbox creates a sense of order and control that will help you stay calm and focused throughout the day.

Here are some tips for organizing your emails by category or priority:

• Create folders for different types of emails, such as work, personal, bills, and subscriptions.
• Use color coding to quickly identify and categorize emails. You can assign different colors to different categories.
• Set up rules to automatically move incoming emails to the relevant folder based on sender or subject line.
• Mark important emails as “priority” or “urgent” to stand out in your inbox.
• Use flags or stars to mark important emails that require follow-up or action.
• Set up filters to automatically prioritize certain senders or keywords in subject lines.

7. Create multiple desktops

Using multiple desktops helps to declutter your Windows 10 workspace by separating different tasks or projects into different virtual desktops, reducing the clutter on your screen and improving system performance.

To create and switch between multiple desktops in Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Task View button in the taskbar or press the Windows key + Tab.
2. Click on the “+ New Desktop” button located at the top left corner of the screen.
3. A new desktop will be created, and you can switch back to your original desktop by clicking on it in the Task View.
4. To move an open window from one desktop to another, switch to the target desktop using Task View, then drag and drop the window onto that desktop.
5. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to switch between desktops quickly. Pressing the Windows key + Ctrl + Left or Right arrow will allow you to cycle through your available workspaces.

8. Use Snap Layouts

Snap Layouts is practical for decluttering your Windows 10 workspace by allowing you to quickly arrange multiple windows on your screen without manually resizing and positioning them. For instance, you can quickly arrange windows side-by-side, stacked, or quadrant to increase productivity by keeping all relevant applications visible and easily accessible on the screen.

To use Snap Layouts in Windows 10, follow these simple steps:

1. Open the windows of applications you want to organize on your desktop.
2. Click and hold the title bar of one of the windows or applications you want to snap into a layout.
3. Drag the window toward one of the corners of your screen until a translucent outline appears.
4. Release the mouse button. The window will snap into place according to the layout option available for that corner.
5. Repeat this process for any additional windows or applications you want to add to your layout.
6. To switch between different layouts, click on the Task View button in the taskbar or press Windows key + Tab.
7. Select one of the available layouts at the top of your screen, and all open windows will automatically snap into place according to that layout.

9. Move large files to external or cloud storage

Moving large files to external or cloud storage is a great way to declutter your Windows 10 system by freeing space. External and cloud storage options are also safer since they back up your important files, protecting them from data loss.

USB drives and external hard drives are two popular options for external storage disks. USB drives are great for on-the-go storage, while external hard drives are better for backing up large amounts of data or storing media files such as photos and videos.

OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox are popular cloud-based storage solutions that allow users to access their files from anywhere with an internet connection.

Here are the steps for moving large files off your computer:

1. Identify the files to be moved: Determine which files you no longer need on your computer and would like to move to external or cloud storage.
2. Choose a storage solution: Decide whether you want to use an external storage device, such as a USB drive or external hard drive, or a cloud-based storage solution, such as Google Drive or Dropbox.
3. Connect external storage device (if applicable): If you’re using an external storage device, connect it to your computer using the appropriate cable.
4. Create a new folder: Create a new folder on your external or cloud-based storage solution where you can store the files you want to move.
5. Select and copy files: Select the files you want to move from your computer and copy them into the new folder you created in step 4.
6. Verify file transfer: Once the file transfer is complete, verify that all your important files have been successfully transferred and are accessible from their new location.
7. Delete original files: Remove the original copies of the moved files from your computer’s hard drive to free up space.

Discover more ways to back up files.

10. Defrag the hard disk

Defragmenting the hard disk can be an effective way to declutter Windows 10 and improve system performance. Over time, as files are added, deleted, and moved around on the hard drive, they can become fragmented – meaning that parts of a single file may be scattered across different areas of the disk. This can slow down file access times and make your computer run more slowly overall. Defragmenting the hard disk reorganizes these files to store them in contiguous blocks, making them easier for your computer to access quickly. This can help to speed up your system and free up valuable storage space by reducing wasted disk space caused by fragmentation.

Here are the steps to defrag the hard disk in Windows 10:

1. Open File Explorer and right-click on the drive you want to defragment.
2. Click on “Properties” and then select the “Tools” tab.
3. Under “Optimize and defragment drive”, click on “Optimize”.
4. Select the drive you want to defragment if it’s not already selected, and click “Analyze”.
5. Wait for the analysis to complete, showing you how much of your disk is fragmented.
6. If your disk is more than 10% fragmented, click “Optimize” to start the defragmentation.
7. Wait for the defragmentation process to complete – this may take several hours, depending on how much data needs to be moved around.
8. Once defragmentation is complete, restart your computer to ensure that all changes take effect.

Conclusion

To recap, decluttering your Windows 10 system is important to maintaining a healthy and efficient computing experience. By following the tips outlined in this article, like removing unnecessary files or organizing the desktop, you will free up valuable storage space, improve system performance, and create a productivity-focused workflow.

It’s worth noting that decluttering Windows 10 is an ongoing process. Check in periodically, perhaps every few months, and make sure everything is still organized and running smoothly.