Chromebooks are handy devices. Their lightweight, ease of use, surprisingly fast speeds, and most importantly economic costs make them the laptop of choice for thousands of people around the world.
In addition to the sleek hardware, one of the most unique aspects of a Chromebook is its operating system. Unlike other more mainstream laptop devices like Macs and Microsoft-based Dells, Chromebooks do not run on bulky operating systems. Instead, Chromebooks run on the internet-based Chrome OS.
The OS was specially developed for these laptops and is primarily responsible for the quick-paced performance of these laptops. There are some serious trade-offs though. The Chrome OS is optimized for using web-based Google applications and has difficulty handling other heavier software.
Moreover, the Chrome OS degrades over time, its performance starts lagging and the device becomes less responsive.
But luckily these performance issues are not nearly permanent or fatal. There are some easy techniques you can deploy to overcome these problems.
But before we jump onto a discussion about these techniques, one important thing needs to be pointed out first.
Most of the fixes mentioned in this write-up require reliable connectivity. You cannot perform most of the operations mentioned in this article if your internet connection keeps lagging.
For this reason, sort out your internet situation before implementing our advice. Established internet service providers like Spectrum offer speeds of up to 300 Mbps which are perfect for performing device maintenance operations.
Now, without further ado, let’s jump into some of the techniques you can deploy to enhance the performance of your Chromebook.
Keep An Eye On Os Updates
Google puts out a lot of software updates to keep its niche OS up to date. And while Chromebooks are designed to automatically detect, download and install these updates, sometimes due to connectivity issues or anti-virus software, these updates might get interrupted or even delayed.
This will greatly reduce the performance of your Chromebook because your device will start running into compatibility issues. So, take out time at least once a month to check if your device has missed out on any important OS updates.
The process is simple; find the ‘About Chrome OS’ and ‘Check for updates’. If there are any left out, install them and restart your device. You’ll notice the performance difference immediately.
Don’t Open Too Many Tabs At Once
Chromebooks are web-based devices and for this reason, several apps need to be opened as browser tabs. People who need to multi-task might face performance issues, especially if they end up opening a large number of tabs simultaneously. Because despite being an excellent browser, Chrome can only handle so much at the same time.
But there is a simple workaround. You can always manage your tab usage by closing the unnecessary ones or grouping the tabs so that your usage becomes more organized.
This tip may not seem like much, but it will help improve your performance by a margin.
Manage Your Extensions Properly
You can install several extensions to your browser to enhance your experience and enjoy some tacky features and functionalities. But installing too many extensions can impact the overall performance of your Chromebook. So, make a habit of consistently reviewing the extensions you have installed and try to uninstall the ones that you do not use regularly.
Extensions are easy to install and do not require loads of data to download. So, uninstalling and re-installing them will not take a toll on your internet package. On the other hand, keeping dozens of idle and useless extensions will reduce the speed of your device.
Go to your Chrome browser, click settings, and select the extensions tab. You can disable unwanted extensions by clicking the toggle bar next to them.
Adjust Your Power Settings
Chromebooks come with three distinct power settings. Each of these is designed to meet specific user needs. If you are using your Chromebook in the ‘Best battery life mode’ you are bound to face performance issues because your laptop is disabling several functions to improve its battery life.
If you want to speed up your Chromebook you can try switching to the ‘Better Performance’ mode. Doing so will immediately increase the speed and performance of your device. These options are easy to toggle between. Go to the settings, click the device icon, find the power button, and choose the option that best suits your needs.
Too Much Browsing Data Can Reduce Speeds
This one is fairly simple. Make sure you keep deleting your browsing history. Accumulating too much browsing history will slow down your internet browser. Since Chromebooks rely so much on their browsers, this will negatively impact your overall laptop user experience.
Wrap Up
Chromebooks are very easy-to-use budget laptops that are designed to meet a variety of usage needs, but these devices tend to slow down over time. Luckily, there are easy fixes to these performance issues. Just implement some of the techniques mentioned in the article above and you’ll see visible enhancements in your device’s speed and performance.
