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How to Defrag Hard Drive in Windows 10

Wondershare Recoverit Authors

Jan 15, 2024 • Filed to: Answer Hard Drive Problems • Proven solutions

Q: How can I defragment my hard drive and boost up my PC performance?
"my computer has been a mess for several months. It is filled with large-sized files and my hard drive is also on the edge of being overloaded. I am willing to defragment my hard drive as my PC is becoming slow day by day. I heard defragmenting the hard drive improves the performance of the computer. Plus, I want to know easy ways to do that."

Yes, certainly defragmenting your hard drive will improve its efficiency. Many people try this to create ease for themselves. You can easily defragment your hard drive with only a few easy steps. In this guide, you will get to know what defragmenting means and what impacts does it has on your computer. The guide mainly focuses on how to defrag hard drive most easily. Stick to the guide to defragment your hard drive decently.

  • Part 1: what is defragmentation?
  • Part 2: 12 ways to start the disk defragmenter in Windows 10?
  • Part 3: how to defrag a hard drive in windows 10 computer?
  • Part 4: how often should you defrag your computer and when?

Part 1: what is defragmentation?

Defragmentation is a procedure used to update your hard drive or we can say optimize the logical structure of the disk partition to make sure that all the files in the hard drive are present in a formal sequence of clusters. Mostly the computers work with the hard for a long time, after that large files are stored in distinct areas of the hard drive. This is the reason most computers become slow after using it for a long period. The hard drive in short becomes old and sick. So, what defragmentation does is that it stores all the files in the drive-in in an uninterrupted manner so that the computer can work brilliantly and faster than before.


Part 2: 12 ways to start the disk defragmenter in Windows 10?

1. Use start menu to open defragment and optimize drives

You can get the option of defragmenting and optimize in the start menu of Windows 10 once you scroll down the list of apps.

2. Open disk defragmenter by using search

Every windows version has the option of search. You can type "disk defragmenter" in the search bar and can easily open it.

3. Pin the Disk Defragmenter to the taskbar

If you use this app frequently. You can pin the disk defragmenter to the taskbar in different versions of windows. In this case, you can easily access disk defragmenter.

4. Open the Disk Defragmenter from File/Windows Explorer

You can simply open file explorer in windows 7/8.1 or 10. After that select the drive you are willing to defragment. Right-click on the drive. Select the properties option once the bar is opened. In properties go to tools and then click "optimize."

5. Open Defragment and Optimize Drives from the Control

The next way is that you can open the control panel. After opening the control panel, you can search "defragment". Then you can have the option to select the drive you want to defragment.

6. Open Defragment and Optimize Drives using Cortana

If you have windows 10, you will be enjoying the services of Cortana. You just say hey Cortana and then say open defragment. Your command will be fulfilled in seconds.

7. create a shortcut on your desktop

You can simply create a shortcut of the app disk defragmenter on your desktop or anywhere else you desire.

8. Use the Run window

The ways are not finished yet. You can press certain keys for this action. Press "WIN+R" on your keyboard. You will have a run window in front of you. Open the field type "dfrgui" and press "Ok". You are all done here.

9. Open the Disk Defragmenter from the Command Prompt

As command prompt is useful in numerous cases. It has no obstacles in opening disk defragmenter also. Open command prompt and type "dfrgui" in the command line and press enter.

10. Open Defragment and Optimize Drives by using Task manager

Open up the task manager, or you can start the task manager more quickly. Just press "control + shift+ Esc". In the task manager, you need to run a new task. Once the new task window is opened. Select "dfrgui" in the space given in front of an open bar.

11. Open the Disk Defragmenter by using the address bar in file/ windows explorer

Using address bar in windows explorer is also an effortless way. In windows explorer type "dfrgui" in the address bar and press enter. Your task will be done.

12. Open Defragment and Optimize Drives by running its executable file only

Lastly, you can open the system32 subfolder of the windows explorer to find and open defragment and optimize the drive tool. Find the file "dfrgui.exe" and double click it.


Part 3: How to defrag a hard drive in windows 10 computer?

Now, understanding the significant procedure to defrag a hard drive. We have known several ways to open the disk defragment app. It is time to defrag it now. There are several ways of doing it using integrated tools only.

Method 1: Control panel

You must be aware of your control panel in your windows. So that's what you have to open at first to defragment your hard drive on windows 10.

Step 1: Open the control panel by using the start icon.

control panel

Step 2: After that, select the option of large icons and open administrative tools.

administrative tools

Step 3: If you have found the administrative tools. Search for the "Defragment and Optimize Drives" menu.

defragment optimize

Step 4: open the optimized drive window.

Step 5: click on the option of change settings. It will give you details and allow you to customize them. You can here select the disk which you desire to optimize according to a schedule or just easily can enable and disable automatic optimization for new disks.

Step 6: Now that you are willing to do it manually, you can select the disk you want to optimize. Firstly, analyze the disk if it needs optimization or not.

fragment percentage

Step 7: So, once you've seen the fragment percentage of your drive, click the option optimize. The size of your disk will decide the time it will take to optimize it.

analyzed percentage

Method 2: Command prompt

The second method which you have to use is enjoying the features of the command prompt. In this method, you will use command prompt to defragment your hard drive on windows 10. Follow these steps

Step 1: Open your command prompt as administrator.

command prompt

Step 2: In the command prompt, run the command defrag and write the letter of your drive which is to be optimized.

Step 3: once you have properly typed the command, press enter.

Cmd optimization

Step 4: It will take time to defragment your drive, don't turn off your PC. Wait for the process to end.

Step 5: After the completion of the defragmentation process a report will be displayed on your screen. In the report, you will witness general data like the size of the drive and the free space left in it.

Settings for the defrag command

You can use these for the settings for the defrag command


Part 4: How often should you defrag your computer and when?

This depends on what type of user you are. As we know your computer creates sluggish on every click you make. So, if a user loads his computer with heavy files and uses the computer frequently there is a need for defragmentation at least twice a month or more. You should defragment your hard drive whenever you feel your computer lacking.

Maintain performance after defragging

To maintain performance after defragging is that you must not load your drive with heavy files. So, if you do so. Just set a schedule for defragging your hard drive frequently so that the performance of your computer maintains.


Conclusion

Defragmentation is a must-do task for every person working on the computer. Defragmentation is the requirement of a hard drive as a medicine to maintain its performance. Making sure that you do this with the proper methods is the main focus. If you are unaware of defragging your hard drive, you might make it useless in a matter of period.

Recoverit author

Theo Lucia

chief Editor

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