Windows systems have their own set of glitches and flaws. And if you are using Windows 10, 8 or 7 these might be a little more for you. Over time, your PC’s hard drive begins to operate with less efficiency due to fragmentation in the file system & it isn’t just a pain for Windows 8 or 7 users but also for those using the latest Windows 11. Down the line, it is also one of the reasons for your system to run slow. And, when we say slow, it’s REALLY SLOW!!!!
To speed up your drive, you can defragment & optimize it in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 using the built-in tool or a dedicated Defragmentation Software. But before we take you further on how to defrag the hard drive, you should have a know-how of the term.
What Is Disk Fragmentation?
Hard drives on your system have spinning platters. When you save data onto it, it is saved at a dedicated place on the same. But when any part (fragment) of the file is saved at a distance on the platter, it causes fragmentation on the drive. To simplify this, ideally, your files should be saved closely on the drive. But when they don’t, it becomes a little difficult for an operating system to read them. Therefore, it takes time and causes your system to respond in a bind to your commands.
What Is Defragmentation?
Defragmentation process, on the other hand, simply moves all of these (parts) fragments in a way so they are located close together in a physical space. The process substantially speeds up read time while accessing the data stored on the disk & ultimately results in smoother performance. By defragmenting your drive, you reassemble the files & combine all the unallocated free space back into one part (fragment), making reading & writing faster than ever.
Also Read – Move Installed Programs To Another Drive In Windows 10
How To Defrag Hard Drive On Windows 11/10?
The steps mentioned below are similar in Windows 11, 10, 8 & 7.
STEP 1- Go to the Search menu & type “Defrag and Optimize Drives.”
Alternatively, you can reach the defragmentation tool using Control Panel. Select System and Security > Defragment and optimize your drives (under the Administrative Tools for Windows 10 & under Windows Tools for Windows 11).
STEP 2- Now go through the list of your PC’s drives in the Defrag tool & look for the hard drive you want to defrag for faster performance.
STEP 3- Ensure you check the Media Type column to ensure you drive is not a Solid-State Drive (SSD). We recommend defragmenting hard drives only!
STEP 4- Now simply go to the drive you would like to defrag & hit the Optimize button below the drives’ list.
Now relax and sit back. Let the Windows Defrag Tool work. Depending on the amount of data stored on your drive & level of fragmentation, the entire process can take a significant amount of time to get it done!
Read Next: 10 Best Defragmentation Software To Defrag Windows 10 Hard Drive (2020)
How To Defrag Computer (Windows 11/10) Automatically?
If you would like to defragment disk in Windows 11/10 without implementing all the aforementioned steps every time. In that case, you can switch on the ‘Scheduled Optimization’ tool in the built-in Defrag tool.
STEP 1- To set automatic defragmentation on Windows 11/10, navigate to the Control Panel & change the view to Small Icons.
STEP 2- Select option – Administrative Tools (for Windows 10) & Windows tools (for Windows 11) and locate the ‘Defragment and Optimize Drives’ menu.
STEP 3- Now press the Turn On button under ‘Scheduled Optimization.’ Here you have to select the schedule timings you want Windows to follow for the automatic defragmentation process.
You need to click on the ‘Choose’ button to select the drives that should be included for defragmentation at regular intervals.
Video Tutorial: How To Defrag Your Hard Drive – For Faster Laptop!
Short on time? Watch this quick tutorial to learn how the defragmentation process works on your Windows 10!
How To Defrag Hard Drive On Windows 10 Using A Dedicated Defragmentation Software?
If you found the process of manually defragmenting hard drives on Windows 10 a little cumbersome, then alternatively, you can also rely on Disk SpeedUp software. It is an excellent disk defragmentation tool & offers the quickest & easiest ways to defrags hard drives while notifying the user about fragmentation on the disk. It is a handy tool that doesn’t require any special knowledge for its use.
To defragment disk in Windows 10 using Disk SpeedUp, all you have to do is:
STEP 1- You primarily need to download and launch the tool. You can use the button below to install Disk SpeedUp on your PC successfully.
STEP 2- Upon its successful setup, it would ask you to select a disk for scanning.
STEP 3- Based on your requirements, choose any disk which you wish to scan & defrag. Depending on the amount of data stored on the disk, the process can take some time.
STEP 4- Once the scan is completed, it will show the results in a summary form.
STEP 5- Now that you have previewed your disk’s real state, you should defrag it with a single click on the ‘Defrag’ button.
The defragmentation software will take a few moments to securely defrag all the files that might be causing your system woes. Apart from optimizing your hard drives, Disk SpeedUp also performs various functions to keep your Windows system in tip-top shape.
- It can clean junk files from your system.
- Help you find and remove duplicate files easily.
- It is designed with a Disk Doctor to find and fix common PC errors.
- It also allows you to customize scanning for defragmentation.
The defrag software is fully compatible with Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 8.1 & 10. To read how Disk SpeedUp can help you significantly improve the overall performance, read the complete review right here!
Frequently Asked Questions: Defragging Hard Drive
Q1. Should I Defrag My Hard Drive On Windows 10?
If you want your PC to run more efficiently, we recommend the defragmentation process. Since it helps you bring all the files & folders together at one place instead of letting them scattered all over your hard drive causing system slow-downs.
Q2. Will I Lose Data If I Defrag My Computer?
Well, usually, defragmenting your hard drive doesn’t cause any data loss. But if there’s a pre-existing issue with your PC, a defrag can result in certain files loss on the surface. We recommend using Advanced Disk Recovery, an easy and secure way to get all your lost or deleted files back in no time. Read about the file recovery software here!
Q3. How Often Should I Defrag Hard Drive In Windows 10
Experts recommend users to defrag their computer hard drives about once a month. However, depending on your PC usage, you might have to defrag at regular intervals.