Are you looking to keep your Windows PC running smoothly and want to understand what’s happening under the hood? Monitoring your system’s performance doesn’t have to be complicated. Windows comes with several built-in features that help you analyze, manage, and optimize your computer. Here’s a step-by-step guide for beginners to use 15 powerful tools and features already available on your PC, along with practical examples and advice for real-world scenarios.
1. Task Manager: How Can You Monitor Running Processes?
Task Manager gives you a snapshot of everything happening on your computer—from running applications to CPU usage. To open Task Manager, right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager, or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Explore the Processes tab to see which apps use the most resources and end unnecessary tasks by right-clicking and selecting End task.
2. Performance Tab in Task Manager: Where’s Your Bottleneck?
Within Task Manager, click the Performance tab. Here, you’ll see live graphs for CPU, memory, disk, network, and GPU usage. This is helpful when your PC feels slow, letting you pinpoint which resource is maxed out.
3. Resource Monitor: How Can You Dive Deeper?
For more details, click Open Resource Monitor at the bottom of the Performance tab in Task Manager. Resource Monitor breaks down CPU, memory, disk, and network activity by process and file, helping you spot demanding apps and possible issues.
4. Reliability Monitor: How Stable Is Your System?
Type reliability in the Start menu and select View reliability history. This tool gives you a timeline of system events, crashes, and updates. You can identify patterns with frequent application failures and know when a problem started.
5. Event Viewer: What’s Going On in the Background?
Search for Event Viewer in the Start menu. This powerful logging tool tracks system warnings, errors, and information. It’s especially useful for troubleshooting recurring issues, like unexpected shutdowns or failed services.
6. Performance Monitor: How Can You Track Data Over Time?
Search for Performance Monitor and open the app. With this tool, you can add counters for everything from processor time to network utilization. It’s great for creating custom monitoring sessions and spotting long-term trends.
7. Storage Sense: How Do You Manage Disk Space Automatically?
Go to Settings > System > Storage and turn on Storage Sense. Windows will automatically delete unnecessary files like temporary files and Recycle Bin items to free up space—helpful for keeping your storage optimized.
8. Disk Cleanup: How Can You Remove Unneeded Files?
Type Disk Cleanup in the Start menu. Select the drive you want to clean, and the utility will let you delete system files, cleanup temporary files, and remove old installations to regain space.
9. Windows Security: How Do You Check for Threats?
Windows Security (or Windows Defender) helps monitor your PC for viruses and threats. Access it from the Start menu, check for any alerts, and run quick or full scans to ensure your system is secure.
10. Network & Internet Status: How Do You Monitor Network Health?
Open Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Here, you can monitor network usage, see active connections, and troubleshoot issues if your internet isn’t working as expected.
11. Device Manager: Can You Check Hardware Status?
Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. This utility lists all hardware devices and flags those with issues. Use it to update drivers or resolve hardware conflicts.
12. Windows Update: How Do You Ensure System Health?
Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update lets you check for the latest security patches and driver updates. Keeping your system updated helps prevent crashes and performance issues.
13. System Information: Where Can You Get a System Overview?
Type System Information in the Start menu. This utility provides detailed specifications about your hardware, installed software, and system resources—very useful for troubleshooting or preparing for upgrades.
14. Power & Sleep Settings: How Do You Optimize Battery and Performance?
Go to Settings > System > Power & sleep. Adjust screen and sleep settings to save energy and maintain performance, especially on laptops.
15. Resource Usage Notifications: How Does Windows Warn You of High Usage?
Windows often notifies you if an app is using a lot of resources or if storage is low. Pay attention to these notifications, as they can help you catch and resolve issues before they slow you down.
Practical Optimization Tip: Use Glary Utilities for All-in-One Maintenance
While Windows offers many built-in monitoring tools, managing them individually can be time-consuming. Glary Utilities provides an all-in-one solution, combining system monitoring, cleanup, repair, and optimization tools in a single dashboard. It automates tasks like registry cleanup, disk space analysis, startup optimization, and privacy protection, making it ideal for beginners who want to keep their PC running at its best with minimal effort.
By regularly checking these 15 built-in features and considering Glary Utilities for comprehensive maintenance, any Windows user can ensure their system stays fast, healthy, and problem-free. Start with the basics, monitor your system often, and take proactive steps to optimize and improve your computer’s performance every day.