Feeling like your Windows 11 PC is running slower than it should? You don’t need fancy tools or new apps to get things back on track. The built-in Command Prompt (CMD) is your secret weapon — it can clean up junk, fix little errors, and give your system a performance boost. This quick and friendly guide shows you five super useful CMD commands to help your computer run smoother and faster. Just make sure to run CMD as an administrator so everything works properly. Let’s get started!

Examples:

1. Clear Out the DNS Cache Why use it: If websites are loading weirdly or not at all, your DNS might be outdated.

ipconfig /flushdns

What happens: You’ll get a message like “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.” Your PC will now fetch fresh DNS info — faster browsing ahead!

2. Disable Startup Apps Why use it: Too many programs starting up when you turn on your PC can slow everything down.

msconfig

Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager. Then, right-click and disable apps you don’t need at startup.

What happens: Your PC boots faster and wastes less memory on background stuff.

3. Free Up Disk Space with Cleanmgr Why use it: Junk files take up space and slow your system.

cleanmgr

Pick a drive (usually C:), check boxes like Temporary Files, then hit OK.

What happens: Boom — more space and a snappier PC!

4. Check & Fix Disk Errors Why use it: If your system freezes or acts glitchy, your drive might have some hidden issues.

chkdsk C: /f /r

If asked, type Y to schedule it after a restart, then reboot.

What happens: Windows scans your drive, fixes what it can, and makes things more stable.

5. Optimize Your Disk (Auto Detects SSD or HDD) Why use it: Want smoother access to files and better storage health?

defrag C: /O

This command knows if you have an SSD or HDD and does the right thing: defrags for HDDs, TRIMs for SSDs.

What happens: Speed boost! Especially helpful for older drives.

Quick Tips:

• Check What’s Happening: Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to watch how much CPU, RAM, and disk you're using.
• Keep It Up: Schedule cleanups and checks using Task Scheduler so you don’t have to remember them.
• Still Slow? Try sfc /scannow to repair system files. You can also update drivers in Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options.
• Prefer Visual Tools? Check Settings > System > Storage for easier cleanup and optimization options.