5 Ways to Speed Up Your Windows PC in 5 Minutes or Less

Did You Know?: There is zero historical evidence that Vikings ever wore horned helmets; the first instance of horns on Viking helmets was actually in Richard Wagner’s 19th century opera Der Ring des Nibelungen. [Read in Browser]( [How-To Geek]() December 9, 2022 Did You Know? There is zero historical evidence that Vikings ever wore horned helmets; the first instance of horns on Viking helmets was actually in Richard Wagner’s 19th century opera Der Ring des Nibelungen. 📹 Record Your Screen Happy Friday! Microsoft just revealed that the Snipping Tool on Windows 11 [will add the ability to record your screen](, instead of just taking screenshots. We’ll have to see how it stacks up against the recorder in the Xbox Game Bar. Meanwhile, [the ad-supported plan for Disney+ is live](, and it doesn’t work on Roku TVs and streaming devices. – Corbin Never miss a newsletter! Add our email address to your contacts. [Learn more...]( TODAY'S TOP STORY [5 Ways to Speed Up Your Windows PC in 5 Minutes or Less]( [5 Ways to Speed Up Your Windows PC in 5 Minutes or Less]( Everybody loves a quick fix and, thankfully, a lot of simple Windows optimizations are easy to apply. If you’re dealing with a sluggish Windows PC, you owe it to yourself to try one (or all!) of these tweaks. [Read More »]( SPONSORED [Accessorize with these Smartwatch Bands for Pop Culture Fans]( [Accessorize with these Smartwatch Bands for Pop Culture Fans]( If you're a pop culture geek who is looking for a unique way to accessorize or are looking for a fantastic gift for another pop culture fan, then you'll definitely want to check out these officially licensed smartwatch bands from MobyFox, which offers a variety of options from franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel, DC Comics, NASA, Game of Thrones, and more. [Browse Your Favorite Collections Now!]( [With the 2022 Update, Windows 11 Is Finally Worth an Upgrade]( [With the 2022 Update, Windows 11 Is Finally Worth an Upgrade]( A mixture of tough hardware requirements, some unpopular changes to the user interface, and a general feeling of “Why bother?” have resulted in poor adoption rates for Windows 11. However, Windows 11’s 2022 update goes a long way to alleviating a lot of those gripes. [Read More »]( STUFF WE LIKE [You Don’t Need to Mount Your Phone on the Vent]( [You Don’t Need to Mount Your Phone on the Vent]( TOPGO There are all sorts of [car mounts]( out there, but most of them attach to your vents or windshield. Not everyone wants hot and cold air blowing on their smartphone, and windshield mounts are illegal in some states. Instead, you can get a mount that fits in your cup holder, like [this one from TOPGO](. What makes this particular car mount so great is the gooseneck design, which not only lifts the phone to a viewable height while driving, but allows you to adjust the angle so you can see the screen better. Perfect if you’re using it for GPS or music! [Buy at Amazon]( $19.99 [Google Sheets Is Adding Colorful “Chips”]( [Google Sheets Is Adding Colorful “Chips”]( Spreadsheets are useful for a lot of things, and among those uses, there’s project/task managing. Google Sheets is one of the most easily accessible and useful spreadsheet services, and now, it’s getting a little friendlier for task management purposes as well. [Read More »]( IN CASE YOU MISSED IT [I Can’t Imagine Using Windows Without the Everything App]( [I Can’t Imagine Using Windows Without the Everything App]( There are very few apps I can’t imagine life without, but at the top of that short list is Everything. I’ve used it for over a decade, and it’s an integral part of my Windows experience. [Read More »]( [Bring Home Big Comfort and Bigger Savings on a Plush Blanket]( [Bring Home Big Comfort and Bigger Savings on a Plush Blanket]( Drape yourself and your loved ones in some of the softest fabrics to hit your bed or couch. As part of the Big Blanket Co.’s 12 Days of Cozy, this massive 100-square-foot Premier Plush Big Blanket can be yours for just $179 ($80 off). [Read More »]( [Get the First-Gen AirPods Pro for the Lowest Price Yet]( [Get the First-Gen AirPods Pro for the Lowest Price Yet]( Apple revealed the second-generation AirPods Pro back in September, so retail stores are trying to get rid of their old inventory, which means sales. Now you can grab the original AirPods Pro for $159.99. [Read More »]( [How to Watch France Take on England for Free with ExpressVPN]( [How to Watch France Take on England for Free with ExpressVPN]( The FIFA World Cup Qatar quarter-finals continue with a tense bout between England and France this Saturday, December 10 at 2:00 PM EST. Watch all the action for free when you geo-shift your IP address to the UK with ExpressVPN. [Read More »]( [Why Do We Measure Speed in Bits, But Space in Bytes?]( [Why Do We Measure Speed in Bits, But Space in Bytes?]( Your internet connection speed is measured in megabits per second, but your computer’s SSD space is measured in megabytes. Both of these units measure an amount of binary data, so why not just use one or the other for everything? [Read More »]( [The Best Christmas Movies on Amazon Prime Video in 2022]( [The Best Christmas Movies on Amazon Prime Video in 2022]( Amazon Prime Video has a film library full of everything from classics to low-budget obscurities, and the same goes for the service’s holiday offerings. Here are the 10 best Christmas movies to stream on Amazon Prime Video. [Read More »]( [Snipping Tool Is Becoming a Screen Recorder on Windows 11]( [Snipping Tool Is Becoming a Screen Recorder on Windows 11]( Snipping Tool has been around since Windows Vista, and after a plan to phase it out a few years ago didn’t work, Microsoft has been working to modernize Snipping Tool. Now another major update is on the way. [Read More »]( [4 Reasons You Should Still Keep an Optical Drive Around]( [4 Reasons You Should Still Keep an Optical Drive Around]( Modern desktop and laptop computers usually ship without an optical drive, and you might think they’re obsolete now. The truth is that everyone should have an optical drive tucked away somewhere because there’s a good chance you’ll need it. [Read More »]( [The Best Switch Controllers in 2022]( [The Best Switch Controllers in 2022]( The Nintendo Switch has built up an incredible roster of controllers since launching in 2017. Not only are there the iconic Joy-Cons, but there are more traditional-styled controllers, some with a retro flair, and even specialized offerings like arcade sticks. [Read More »]( LIFESAVVY [What Is "Auld Lang Syne" Actually About?]( [What Is "Auld Lang Syne" Actually About?]( When it comes to celebrations, New Year’s Eve is arguably one of the biggest. From the champagne to the sparklers, it’s a glorious night of ringing in a bright new future. But there’s one particular question you (like me), might have about it. [Read More »]( Want to see more great content from LifeSavvy? Join the mailing list! [Sign Up for the LifeSavvy Newsletter]( LIFESAVVY [The Best Last Minute Amazon Christmas Gifts]( [The Best Last Minute Amazon Christmas Gifts]( We’ve all been there. Maybe you left someone off your shopping list, maybe Thanksgiving was busy, or maybe you just procrastinated. Whatever the reason, you need a last-minute Christmas gift. [Read More »]( REVIEW GEEK [Diner 7-in-1 Turntable Review: A Nostalgic-Looking, Entry-Level Option]( [Diner 7-in-1 Turntable Review: A Nostalgic-Looking, Entry-Level Option]( As a kid, I remember tirelessly collecting CDs from all my favorite artists because I wanted that physical experience of swapping out the disc. But alas, digital music took over. With Victor Audio’s Diner Hybrid Record Player, I can get the best of both worlds—physical and digital music. [Read More »]( REVIEW GEEK [Why You Shouldn't Use Indoor Cameras]( [Why You Shouldn't Use Indoor Cameras]( Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four is often used as an analogy for the dystopian hell we seem to be sliding towards. One of the book’s creepier elements involved surveillance devices being installed in people’s homes. But if you’re jamming cameras in your own house, Orwell isn’t the only thing you have to worry about. [Read More »]( [How to Monitor Your Computer’s GPU Temperature]( [How to Monitor Your Computer’s GPU Temperature]( High temperatures reduce the performance of your GPU and may even cause your system to shut down. There are numerous ways to monitor your GPU’s temperature — find out more about some different options here. [Read More »]( SHARE THIS COMIC: [Follow us on Facebook]( [Follow on Twitter]( [Share Link]( [Email Link]( [Remember When New CPUs Were Always a Huge Upgrade?]( [Remember When New CPUs Were Always a Huge Upgrade?]( Nowadays, it seems like many PC hardware upgrades are mostly iterative, incremental upgrades. Other than a few extra cores, or faster-clocked cores, we’re not getting anything truly exciting or earth-shattering. What ever happened to the good old days? [Read More »]( MINDBOUNCE TRIVIA [Crepuscular Animals Are Most Active During?]( [Twilight »]( [Noonday »]( [Full Moons »]( [Forest Fires »]( [How to Upgrade Your PC to Windows 11]( [How to Upgrade Your PC to Windows 11]( Windows 11 is now available. If you’ve decided you want to upgrade from Windows 10, here’s how you can get the free upgrade—even if Windows Update doesn’t offer it. This works if Windows 11 doesn’t officially support your PC, too. [Read More »]( Follow Us on Social Media [Follow us on Facebook]( [Follow on Twitter]( [Follow us on LinkedIn]( [What Is VSync, and Should You Enable It?]( [What Is VSync, and Should You Enable It?]( Video games commonly have a toggle in their graphics settings called VSync. But what does VSync do, and should you enable it? We’ll explore the pros and cons of VSync technology to help you decide when it’s the best option. [Read More »]( [Drop + EPOS H3X Review: An Affordable Gaming Headset That’s Also Great for Music]( [Drop + EPOS H3X Review: An Affordable Gaming Headset That’s Also Great for Music]( Shopping for an affordable gaming headset is often an exercise in frustration, as many of them take cheap components and try to fix them with software and features like virtual surround sound. The Drop + EPOS H3X aims to be different, dropping the software and focusing on great-sounding components. [Read More »]( [Today Only: This Tiny 65W 2-Port USB-C Charger Is Just $32]( [Today Only: This Tiny 65W 2-Port USB-C Charger Is Just $32]( You might have a few USB Type-C wall adapters around your home, but Spigen has one on sale right now that can fast-charge two devices at once. Best of all, it’s small enough to fit in any bag. [Read More »]( [Disney+ With Ads Is Here, and It Doesn’t Work on Roku]( [Disney+ With Ads Is Here, and It Doesn’t Work on Roku]( We have some good news and bad news. Disney+ price hikes are live as of the publishing date, pushing the price to $10.99 a month, up from $7.99/mo. The good news is that if you’d rather not pay that much, the ad-supported tier has also gone live today. [Read More »]( [10 Awesome PlayStation 5 Features You Should Be Using]( [10 Awesome PlayStation 5 Features You Should Be Using]( Got your hands on a PlayStation 5 at last? Sony’s console can do more than let you experience top-tier titles. To make the most of this powerful gaming system, check out these PS5 add-ons and hidden features. [Read More »]( [The Five Best PC Upgrades to Improve Performance]( [The Five Best PC Upgrades to Improve Performance]( Upgrading a PC? Your choices range from installing more RAM to custom building a case designed for a DIY liquid cooling system. Which upgrades are the best depends on your PC. What specs does it have right now? Are you gaming, editing 4K videos, or just browsing the web? [Read More »]( Everything Else [How to Block Websites on Android]( [How to Block Websites on Android]( [How to Install Free HEVC Codecs on Windows 10 (for H.265 Video)]( [How to Install Free HEVC Codecs on Windows 10 (for H.265 Video)]( You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from How-To Geek. [Click here to change your preferences or unsubscribe.]( How-To Geek, 21010 Southbank St., #4015 Sterling, VA 20165