Microsoft Says This Free App Speeds Up Your PC With One Click. I Put It to the Test

In my experience, Windows PCs have gotten fast enough that I don’t have to worry about running too many apps or opening too many files at once. But there’s always room for improvement, especially if you have a less powerful machine. 

You can look to third-party tools, such as Ashampoo WinOptimizer, CCleaner, or Iolo System Mechanic, for a performance boost; however, these apps may cost money and can potentially interfere with your preinstalled software. Windows itself also has some tools that can make your PC feel faster, including Storage Sense and the Performance Options Control Panel, though those aren’t all in one convenient place.  

Now, Microsoft offers a single, streamlined utility app that collects all of Windows’ performance optimization settings: PC Manager. And it’s totally free. The company goes as far as to claim that it “enhances PC performance with just one click,” so I set out to test how well it works in the real world. Here’s what…