Windows 10 Maintenance Tools

Before you start to add software to help with PC and Windows 10 maintenance, it is worth checking out the numerous tools included with the OS. These are slightly spread out over several different settings menus and tool folders but once you know where to find them, you will see that they can really help with system security and performance.

Storage Sense
Activating Storage Sense lets the system software automatically free up storage space by getting rid of files you no longer need. These can include temporary files such as cookies and the contents of your Recycle Bin.

You can choose when files are deleted, e.g. after 30 days in the Recycle Bin orif appsdon't use them for a certain amount of time. Alternatively you can simply click a button to Clean Now rather than setting automatic cleaning. You can find the Storage Sense option in Settings → System → Storage.

Background Apps
One of the easiest ways to conserve power (for laptop users) and reduce processor strain, is to take control of Background Apps. These are apps that are, by default, allowed to receive info, send notifications and update in the background.

You can either stop all background apps with a single slider click or you can prevent individual apps from running in the background. Go to Settings → Privacy → Background Apps and look through the apps listed. If you see apps that you don't need notifications or updates from, click the slider to disable its background activity.

Troubleshooters
Windows 10 includes a number of troubleshooting tools, aimed specifically at certain problems such as audio loss or patchy Internet connection. This is often the best place to start when trying to solve problems with your PC and Windows 10, as the OS contains many drivers for common devices and may just need a small software update.

You simply look through the list of troubleshooters and click on the one which applies. Choose Run the Troubleshooter and then follow the instructions to try and solve the problem. You can find the troubleshooters in Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot.

Disk Tools
There are several tools built in to Windows 10 (and also in older versions of the OS) that allow you to clean, fix and manage your hard disk. Open the File Explorer and look in the left-hand column for 'This PC'. Select it and then right-click on Local Disk (C:). In the General tab, you will see a button for Disk Cleanup that lets you get rid of temporary Internet files, old program files and so on.

If you click the Tools tab, you can use the Error Checking tool and the Disk Defragment tool. Both of these tools can help your hard disk run more efficiently. Click on either button and follow the instructions for each.