A lot of people clutter up their computers or laptops. They store so many files, programs, and photos that they actually rarely use or barely need. But still, they keep their selves from decluttering their laptops because with so many files in their storage, they no longer know what items to get rid of.
These people are so scared of decluttering their computers that it wouldn’t be surprising if they hire someone offering managed backup and disaster recovery services in case their laptops break down. If you’re one of these people, here’s a short guide for you.
Start with the desktop
Often, people clutter their desktops for easy access to important files. Rather than storing that payroll excel sheet in its proper folder, you simply put it in your desktop. So that the next time you need to fix the employees’ salary, you’ll just click on the excel sheet on your desktop. In an instant, you have all the information you need.
But the truth is you end up doing this too often, with almost every file, photo, or anything you put in your computer. Eventually, your monitor will end up looking like an aerial view of a digital garbage dump.
Start by sorting out the stuff in your desktop and filing them properly. You’ll definitely find some files there that you no longer need, and when that happens, throw them in the trash bin. As for the stuff you still need, store them in an external hard drive so that your laptop will have enough storage to run properly.
Go to the trash bin
After you’ve cleared your desktop, you might notice that your trash bin already has so many files in it waiting to be deleted forever. Don’t think twice and just delete them all. Letting them sit there will only hamper your laptop’s performance.
Also, make it a habit to clean out your trash bin every week. By doing so, you’ll help your computer run more properly. Remember that an internal hard drive that’s filled to the brim will run much slower.
Check the bookmarks, cookies, and folders
It’s also important to clear all your browser bookmarks, cookies, and internet folders from time to time. The reason behind this is that you could also encounter problems with your computer’s performance if you have too many of these things.
Next, the photos and videos
Images and video files take up a lot of space on a computer. If you have tons of these files, you can’t expect your laptop to run properly. So, either you store them in an external hard drive or keep them in the cloud.
Last, the programs
Check your list of programs and see if there’s any that you haven’t been using in the past few months. All computers have a detailed list of programs including the last time you used them.
If you check out the dates of some of the programs in your laptop and it says that it’s been two years since you last used it, then perhaps you should get rid of it. You don’t need all the programs there, and they take up a lot of space as well.
That’s how to declutter your laptop. Get rid of the programs you’re no longer using and store your important files in their proper folders. Use an external hard drive for stuff that you won’t need right away, but are still important to you.
