Chromebook Maintenance And Care| Chromebook How To Guides

How to Speed Up a Chromebook in 8 Easy Steps

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How to Speed Up a Chromebook

Published By: Anwar A Mzee

How to Speed Up a Chromebook

Chromebooks are great devices that offer a lot of value for the price. However, one thing that can be frustrating for some users is that they can seem a bit slow compared to other top laptops.

In this blog post, we will discuss 8 easy steps on How to Speed Up a Chromebook and make it run like new again!

Key take-ways
  • Chromebooks can get bogged down because of software or hardware issues, including overworked memory or limited storage space.
  • There are several ways to improve performance on a Chromebook, including checking for updates, closing unused tabs, restarting your device, and disabling hardware acceleration.
  • To keep your Chromebook running smoothly and quickly, it is important to regularly maintain it.
  • Simply keep it light by avoiding too many programs that are graphic intensive.

Why is my Chromebook so slow and freezing?

Why is my Chromebook so slow and freezing?

Living in the modern world, it’s natural to expect things like technology to be fast and responsive.

So when things like our Chromebooks start grinding to a halt and become bogged down with seemingly little explanation, it can be pretty frustrating.

This is usually the result of software or hardware issues, including overworked memory or limited storage space.

Another possible cause could be too many applications running simultaneously, resulting in a slowdown or freezing as your computer works to stay on top of all the tasks.

In some cases, restarting your Chromebook may help sort out any underlying problems related to speed.

Additionally, if you’re running low on storage space due to files taking up too much room, simply deleting some of those files can instantly improve the performance and responsiveness of your system.

In any case, ensure that you have the necessary antivirus installed to guard against malware and spyware which might have slowed down the Chromebook’s performance significantly.

As a matter of fact, chromebooks do require antivirus. Refer to our research work.

How to improve Chromebook performance

How to improve Chromebook performance | How to Speed Up a Chromebook

Are you looking for ways to improve your Chromebook’s performance? You may be experiencing sluggish speeds, or perhaps scrolling has become laggy.

It doesn’t matter what type of issue you’re having; there are a few simple steps you can take to get your Chromebook working smoothly again.

In this section blog post, we’ll discuss how to improve Chromebook performance so as keep it running as efficiently as possible.

Read on to discover key tricks that can help boost speed, reduce memory usage, and generally make working with a Chromebook easier – no tech experience required.

1. Check for updates 

Check for updates 

One of the first things you should do if your Chromebook is running slow is to check for updates.

Chromebooks receive regular updates from Google that can include performance improvements and security fixes.

To check for updates, click the “Settings” icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen and then click “About Chrome OS.”

If there’s an update available, it will be downloaded and installed automatically.

For an in-depth look into this process, check out our comprehensive guide on How to Update a Chromebook the correct way.

2. Close unused tabs 

Close unused tabs  to improve Chromebook performance

Another reason why your Chromebook might be running slow is that you have too many tabs open.

Each tab uses up some of your Chromebook’s resources, so it’s best to close any tabs that you’re not using.

To close a tab, click on the “x” in the top-right corner of the tab. You can also right-click on the tab and select “Close Tab.” Or simply press Ctrl + w and this will close the tab for you.

Instantly close all your open tabs with the simple press of “CTRL” + “Shift” + “W.”

This single key combination shuts down the entire window, simultaneously ending every tab you have running.

3. Restart your Chromebook 

Restart your Chromebook  to boost performance

If your Chromebook is still running slow after checking for updates and closing unused tabs, try restarting it.

This will close all open programs and tabs and give your Chromebook a fresh start.

To restart your Chromebook, click the “Settings” icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen and then click “Power.” Click “Restart” to restart your device.

4. Turn off hardware acceleration 

Turn off hardware acceleration  to speed up your Chromebook

Hardware acceleration is a feature that allows your Chromebook to use its hardware (such as the processor or graphics card) to speed up certain tasks.

However, this feature can sometimes cause problems and lead to a slower experience.

If you’re looking to deactivate hardware acceleration, simply open Chrome on your Chromebook and enter chrome://flags in the URL bar.

After that, a page will open, search for “Hardware-accelerated video decode” and select Disabled from its corresponding dropdown menu.

With just a few clicks of your mouse, you’ll have disabled this feature!

To gain a better understanding of this subject, you can review the comprehensive research conducted by WikiHow. Simply click here for step-by-step instructions.

5. Clear browsing data 

Clear browsing data  to boost and speed your chromebook

Whether your Chromebook is feeling a bit sluggish, or you simply want an extra boost of speed, the often-overlooked solution of clearing browsing data can be extremely helpful.

How can clearing your browsing data help?

By doing this you are removing any cached images and files that have been stored in your browser.

This means that it needs to reach out to the web for more information every time you go to a webpage, thus requiring more power and making it faster.

To start off, go into the Chrome browser on your device and find the “settings” icon. Once that is open, scroll down and click on “advanced settings” near the bottom of that page.

From there select “Clear browsing data” which will give you several options as to what type of data can be cleared from your computers such as cookies or cached files.

It’s best to select all options when attempting to increase your chromebooks speed.

This simple process can provide significant help in getting back the original performance of your Chromebook.

6. Remove unused extensions 

Remove unused extensions  to improve chromebook performance

Extensions are small programs that add extra features to your web browser.

While they can be useful, they can also slow down your Chromebook if you have too many installed or if you’re using ones that are resource-intensive.

Removing unused extensions can be an effective way of trimming down unnecessary activities that take away from your device’s performance.

If you notice that your Chromebook is becoming bogged down by extensions, it may be time to clear out the ones you don’t need.

Not only will this free up RAM and make your device run faster, but it can also help protect your data from malicious or unknown sources.

The best way to achieve this is by opening the Chrome Web Store and going through the list of installed extensions to decide which ones you need and which ones should be gotten rid of.

It is also essential to remember to update your extensions regularly or disable them completely if they are not in use as older or outdated extensions could slow down your Chromebook even further.

Taking these simple steps will ensure your Chromebook stays responsive and quick.

7. Enable Hyper-Threading 

Enable Hyper-Threading  to make your Chromebook faster

Enabling Hyper-Threading on a Chromebook is a great way to improve performance, allowing users to work faster and more efficiently.

This technology increases the speed of the processor by creating two virtual cores instead of one.

Not only does this create an additional pipeline for the processor to use, it also boosts parallel computing power at the same time.

Hyper-Threading can be enabled with a simple command from the terminal and once switched on, will make a noticeable difference in overall performance.

While it won’t completely transform your machine, it’s worth turning on if you’re looking to get extra juice out of your Chromebook.

Knowing how to turn on Hyper-Threading can greatly improve the performance of computing tasks.

To do this, open Chrome and enter chrome://flags#scheduler-configuration into the address bar.

After navigating to this page, you can select the option to enable Hyper-Threading on suitable CPUs before restarting your browser.

If you need to switch back to the default setting, simply choose the Default option and restart again. With a few brief steps, you can enjoy a smoother and faster computing experience.

8. Enable GPU Rasterization

Enable GPU Rasterization to speed up a chromebook

GPU Rasterization can make a serious difference in how well your Chromebook functions, taking a significant load off the CPU and providing smoother graphics performance.

It’s disabled by default on most systems due to incompatibility issues but enabling it can grant greater control over compositing operations a back-end pipeline for web page rendering and better hardware-accelerated rendering of the Google Chrome UI.

However, it should be noted that enabling GPU rasterization is not without its potential drawbacks; depending on the system settings and components, it could lead to graphical glitches or instability.

Knowing whether or not GPU rasterization is right for your Chromebook requires carefully researching the available information on compatibility and determining if the system is likely able to handle the feature before you attempt activating it.

To unlock GPU rasterization and all its benefits, open your Chrome browser and enter chrome://flags#GPU rasterization into the address bar.

Then set the dropdown to Enabled instead of Default and you’ll have access to this cutting-edge feature!

9. If all fails try resetting your Chromebook

If all fails try resetting your Chromebook to improve its performance

Maintaining your Chromebook’s performance is an essential task to keep the device running optimally. One of the best ways to do this is to powerwash it periodically.

Powerwashing clears out temporary files, cookies, and other stored data that can accumulate over time.

It can greatly reduce or eliminate lagging or freezing that sometimes affects Chromebooks.

Additionally, power washing allows users to reset their Chromebooks back to factory settings if needed, which can be useful if you’re facing a major problem that none of the other optimization steps has been able to resolve.

If you’re wondering how to power wash your Chromebook, our guide on How to reset a Chromebook is the perfect place to start.

Conclusion on How to Speed Up a Chromebook

By following these simple steps, you’ll have your Chromebook running quickly and smoothly. How to Speed up a Chromebook doesn’t have to be daunting or complicated!

These steps are easy to understand and follow and will ensure that your Chromebook remains as efficient as possible.

Whether you’re looking for improved performance due to new hardware or just trying to squeeze a bit more juice out of an ageing device, How to Speed up a Chromebook is the answer!

By following these steps, you can make sure your Chromebook remains at peak performance and is ready for anything.

Good luck!

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