How Can I Boost Windows 11 Performance Without Compromising Security?

I'm looking for practical ways to improve the speed and responsiveness of my Windows 11 PC while keeping its security features intact. I've already gone through the tutorial sections and noted a few interesting suggestions, but I'd appreciate additional advice from experienced users.

Hello @Offorn and welcome to ElevenForum.


It would help if we knew your computer specs...

Hi, it would help if you could
a. Complete your PC specs including disk(s).
Tutorial available
(Click My Computer below my post for comparison)

b. Kindly state what it is you might perceive about your PC being 'slow', and whether it used to be faster.

c. Say how much free space you have on C:

d. How long does it take from cold boot to lock screen?

e. Post appropriate screenshots of your task manager (columns of interest organised high to low by clicking on the column header) at, say, 3 minutes after logging in without having opened any other programs.

Also your complete full build number.

Otherwise it's a complete guessing game. Thanks.

Let's start at the top. Exactly what needs boosting? What EXACT issues are you experiencing.

Two main items to booat performannce are:

1) Use SSDs/NVMs especially for OS drive.

2) Add more RAM (diminishing returns as RAM increases). You should have at least 8GB minimum but preferably 16G

Beyond that, in software terms minimise as may programs running at background in startup/normal operation.

Do not try and cut out chunks of OS like defender.


Also cutting lots of services is rather pointless.

In the end, the only real way to improve overall performance is to upgrade to a more powerful device.

The most cost effective way to get Windows running blazingly fast is to turn off the eye candy and disable apps from running in the background. You don't need more RAM. When you configure Windows for performance, you don't need to wait for apps to start up and to hold multiple browser Windows open. Microsoft has Windows set up to look pretty and run slow. You can change the default.

Concur with all above.

NVMe drive for OS, minimum 16gb RAM, cut out a lot of the MS guff working in the background using O&O ShutUp! to shut off Copilot etc if you don't need or use it. Disable all the unnecessary startup apps.

My system from pressing the power button on a cold boot to being able to use my PC, is around 5 seconds average.