Keeping your Windows 10 system running smoothly requires a clear understanding of how your computer’s resources are being used. System monitoring tools give you real-time insight into performance, hardware health, and background activity. By regularly monitoring and optimizing your system, you can extend its lifespan, improve speed, and avoid common problems before they escalate.
Why is system monitoring important?
Every Windows PC experiences a gradual slowdown over time. This can be due to software bloat, unnecessary background processes, overheating hardware, or inefficient resource allocation. Monitoring tools help you detect these issues early. For example, if your CPU usage is consistently high even when idle, it could indicate a runaway process or malware. If your storage drive is reaching capacity, you may notice slower load times and increased wear on your drive.
Which built-in Windows 10 tools help monitor performance?
Windows 10 comes with several powerful built-in tools for monitoring system health:
Task Manager – This is your go-to for checking CPU, memory, disk, and network usage in real time. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open it quickly. You can spot resource-hungry programs and close them directly from here.
Resource Monitor – Accessible from Task Manager’s Performance tab or by typing “resmon” in the search bar, Resource Monitor gives deeper insight into how individual processes use your CPU, memory, disk, and network connections.
Performance Monitor – This tool allows you to create custom monitoring reports and track performance over time. By typing “perfmon” into the search bar, you can set up counters to monitor specific metrics.
Reliability Monitor – Found by searching “Reliability Monitor” in the Start menu, this feature provides a timeline of system events, crashes, and hardware failures, making it easier to diagnose recurring problems.
How can you improve performance while monitoring?
Monitoring alone is not enough; you need to act on the data you collect. One of the best ways to combine monitoring with optimization is by using an all-in-one maintenance suite like Glary Utilities.
Glary Utilities offers features that complement Windows’ built-in tools:
• Startup Manager – Lets you monitor and disable unnecessary programs that delay boot times. You can quickly identify those flagged as non-essential and reduce system startup load.
• Disk Cleaner – Frees up space by removing temporary files, system caches, and residual program data, helping keep disk usage low.
• Memory Optimization – Monitors RAM usage and releases unused memory for smoother multitasking.
• Process Manager – Provides an alternative to Task Manager with more detailed insights into running processes and their resource usage.
• Scheduled Maintenance – Automates cleaning and optimization, reducing the chance of performance degradation over time.
A practical example of combining tools
Imagine your PC starts lagging when using multiple applications. First, you open Task Manager and notice your RAM is nearly maxed out. Resource Monitor shows one browser process using excessive memory due to a poorly coded extension. You disable that extension, but you also open Glary Utilities and use the Memory Optimization tool to free up unused resources instantly. Then, you run the Startup Manager to ensure that only essential programs load at boot, preventing future slowdowns.
Best practices for ongoing system monitoring and optimization
Check Task Manager regularly to spot unusual activity before it impacts performance.
Use Glary Utilities once a week to clean up junk files, optimize startup items, and check for registry issues.
Run Reliability Monitor monthly to track patterns in crashes or hardware warnings.
Keep an eye on drive space and health to avoid slowdowns caused by a nearly full or failing storage device.
Automate maintenance tasks where possible to ensure your system stays optimized without constant manual intervention.
By combining Windows 10’s built-in monitoring tools with comprehensive optimization software like Glary Utilities, you can maintain a fast, stable, and reliable PC. Regular monitoring not only improves day-to-day performance but also prevents small issues from becoming costly repairs or replacements.