How to check the health of your Windows PC or laptop

1. Find PC Health Check app

You probably already have the PC Health Check app installed on your Windows PC or laptop. Go to your search bar and start typing 'PC Health Check.' If you have the app, then click on it or select Open.

If you do not have the app installed on your device, you can download it from Microsoft. 

2. Open PC Health Check app

When you open the PC Health Check app, you'll see a user-friendly dashboard that shows an overview of your device's health. Detailed device information is displayed on the left side of the screen, including system specifications such as the processor, RAM, and system type. The "Rename your PC" button allows you to customize your device's name to something more descriptive.

3. Activate Back up & sync

The Back up & sync feature in the PC Health Check app safeguards your data by duplicating your files, allowing you to recover them if any data is lost.

If you haven't set up your Back up & sync options, you'll see an alert saying Attention required. Expand the section and follow the on-screen instructions to choose your backup destination and what files you want to back up. Then, set up a backup schedule that suits your usage pattern.

Once your backup options are active, you'll see a message saying “Backed up” or “Backing up".

4. Use the Windows Update feature

The Windows Update feature in the PC Health Check app is a crucial component for maintaining the security, performance, and stability of your Windows PC or laptop. It downloads and installs the latest updates for Windows, including security patches, feature updates, and driver updates.

If you expand the Windows Updates section in the app, you will see the option to open the Windows Update page in Settings as a new window.

From here, you can manually check if any updates are available on your PC by clicking the Check for updates button.

You also have the option to pause updates, view update history, set advanced options like restart hours, and enable updates for other Microsoft products, like Office, when updating Windows. Toggle these options on and off to suit your preferences.

5. Check battery efficiency (if using a laptop)

If you're running Windows on a laptop, you can use the PC Health Check app to check battery efficiency. Look for the Battery capacity section in the app and expand it.

It will provide details about your battery’s life and performance and offer tips to extend your battery life.

6. Analyze storage capacity

Navigate to the storage section of the PC Health Check app to check how much space you've used on your device and see how much is available. For more information, click the Manage storage settings link, which will take you to the Storage window in Settings. From here, you can manage the following settings:

Storage Sense: Enable this feature to automatically free up space by cleaning up files you don't need, like temporary files and items in your Recycle Bin.

Cleanup recommendations: Manually remove large, unused, or deleted files to free up more storage.

Advanced storage settings: This option provides additional options for managing your device's storage, including pooling together multiple drives into a single storage space, specifying the default save location for new content, and accessing tools to optimize your drives (formerly known as disk defragmentation for HDDs and trim for SSDs).

7. Check Startup time

The Startup section of the PC Health Check app provides information on your device's startup performance and provides a link to the Startup window in settings. 

From the Startup window, you can choose which applications automatically run when your computer starts up. 

Each application has a toggle switch next to it. You can use these switches to enable or disable apps from automatically running at startup. Disabling non-essential apps can speed up your PC's startup time and improve overall performance.

8. Access Tips on PC Health

At the bottom of the PC Health Check app screen, there is a button called Tips on PC Health. Click this button to open a new window and read tips on optimizing your computer's health and performance. This includes advice on performance optimization, security enhancements, and storage management. If you actively apply these tips, you should see a notable improvement in your device's performance and security.