Monthly Windows Maintenance For Optimal Performance

Windows is the dominant desktop OS, affecting our daily lives, from simple tasks to more complex ones such as gaming, editing, etc. For some, it is also an essential means of earning income. As with everything in this life, though, Windows needs some maintenance for optimal performance. Let’s see what a user can apply as a monthly routine to maintain the OS in its optimal state in the best way possible.

Windows Update

It might be a headache for some users, but it is one of the most essential tasks to maintain our OS in a good state. Nowadays, Windows Update issues are not as critical as they used to be in the past. Security updates are essential, and performance ones might improve the system’s stability (or not). So, the golden rule is to update our OS when necessary updates should be applied. We can check for cumulative or driver updates in the advanced tab (through our vendor’s site we should perform GPU updates for the most recent version. So, GPU updates are an exception, if we want the latest version) and decide if we should apply them. WHQL updates might not be the most recent, but they are the ones that are “Microsoft-approved.”

Microsoft Store Updates

Did you know that you can update a wide variety of apps and tools offered by Microsoft through the Microsoft Store? Well, now you know. Go to your MS Store icon and check for updates in the “Download” section. Perform the updates. This is a good opportunity to check for unnecessary apps offered by MS and uninstall them as well. It’s a win-win situation.

Browser Updates

Your browser of choice is one of the most critical parts of your OS and should be updated frequently. Security patches are essential. Out of the box, the browsers will be auto-updated if you don’t choose differently. But once in a while, you can check manually for any updates. Navigate to your browser’s “hamburger menu”—Settings—About Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc., and check if any updates are available. Moreover, clear your browser history and check for any privacy settings you wish to change.

Browser’s add-ons

Browsers’ add-ons should be updated as well. In Firefox, you can manually update them through the add-ons section. In Chromium-based browsers, you can check the version of your add-on and compare it to the one available through its store. Most of the time, they should be auto-updated. Uninstall any add-ons you don’t need. We recommend UBlock Origin-Adguard, Pop-Up Blocker Strict, NoScript, and BitDefender TrafficLight. Privacy Badger is popular, too.

Temp Folder and Storage Sense

Windows keeps temporary files that are not useful and takes up space that is not needed, which might affect its performance. Press the “Windows Key & R” combo on your keyboard and at the pop-up window, type “%temp%” without the quotes. It is pretty safe to delete everything in this folder. You can check the Storage Sense feature in the Storage section as well. Keep in mind that Windows performs optimization tasks frequently, but they are pretty inadequate when you need some out-of-the-box tidiness. So, it is best to take control occasionally.

Update your apps

Apps have vulnerabilities, exploits, bugs, etc. It is critical to update them frequently through their in-app menu (e.g., iCue, Synapse, Photoshop, etc.) or by visiting your vendor’s site. If you are a PortableApps fan like I am, you can consider the PALauncher, which can update your apps easily. Uninstall any apps you don’t need (Revo Uninstaller is a good option). Be cautious with OEMware.

Check for unnecessary Start-up apps

Many apps, by default, are choosing to start up with Windows. Except that it might affect performance, running in the background is unnecessary. Navigate to your task manager > Startup Section and disable any unneeded apps. You can also navigate to the schedule manager and disable unnecessary scheduled tasks.

Run an Antivirus Full Scan

It is best to perform an anti-malware scan at least once a month.

sfc /scannow

The sfc /scannow command is a decent tool to check for any integrity or corrupted files that need to be repaired. Open the Command Prompt/Powershell/Terminal and run the sfc /scannow command as admin. If any problem persists, you can run the DISM command for better results.

Check your Windows Event Viewer

Windows Event Viewer might help you if you want to check your system’s stability.

Check your hardware state and clean it

Dust and other factors might also affect your system’s stability. Check the physical state and utilize a well-regarded tool such as HWInfo to monitor your sensors’ reported temperature, etc.

Epilogue

This is an essential basic routine to maintain your system in its optimal state in the best way possible. It is best to perform it at least every month. Precaution and maintenance never hurt anyone, and Windows will be thankful. So, just do it.