Everyone wants their Windows PCs to offer the best performance. Apps should open instantly, there shouldn't be any lag when switching windows, and the system itself should boot immediately. However, if any of these aspects feel a bit sluggish, Microsoft says it could be due to your OneDrive file syncing settings and your computer's visual effects.
How OneDrive Sync and Visual Effects Affect Windows Performance
OneDrive is Microsoft's own cloud storage platform , allowing you to store your data in the cloud. All the data stored on OneDrive can be accessed from anywhere, on any device, as long as you have internet access. While syncing files to cloud platforms like OneDrive offers many benefits, Microsoft confirms that the other side of the story is that the whole syncing process puts a lot of strain on your Windows system, and as a result, you may experience sluggish performance.
Now that Microsoft has pointed that out on its support page, I can recall experiencing a bit of lag on my Windows 11 system while working in File Explorer, with OneDrive backing up files in the background. As it turns out, when OneDrive sync is enabled, the platform constantly monitors your system for changes. For instance, if you add a new image to one of the local drives, OneDrive sync ensures that the image is instantly uploaded to OneDrive. This constant background monitoring and syncing of data consumes a significant amount of system resources, which is why you may experience lag when OneDrive is syncing files.
In addition to OneDrive sync, Windows visual effects also contribute to the sluggish performance of your computer. The shadow effects, transition effects, and other graphical enhancements you see on your Windows computer are part of the Windows visual effects. Together, these effects give Windows a modern touch and ensure you have a smoother Windows experience.
On the flip side, these visual effects consume a significant amount of CPU , GPU, and RAM. While you might not notice this impact on a high-end device, on a low-power device, any extra resource consumption like this can significantly affect the overall performance of the system. For instance, if you enable all the visual effects on a system with an old GPU and less than 8GB of RAM , you will likely experience their impact in the form of system lag.
What Can You Do to Fix Your Windows Performance?
Along with pointing out that OneDrive file syncing and Windows visual effects affect system performance, Microsoft's support page also mentions ways to restore performance. For OneDrive, Microsoft recommends pausing the syncing process . That's actually good advice, as there may be times when a cloud backup isn't required. During such times, OneDrive constantly checking for changes in local drives can put unnecessary strain on your system.
Pause OneDrive's Automatic Syncronization
It's quite easy to pause OneDrive syncing. To do this, click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar, then click the gear icon that appears in the OneDrive window. Select "Pause Syncing" from the menu that appears, and choose the duration for which you want to pause the syncing process.
In addition to pausing syncing manually, I would recommend configuring OneDrive to avoid syncing files when your system is in battery saver mode . When battery saver mode is enabled, your computer limits several processes to conserve power. However, if OneDrive sync continues to run in that mode, it will cause your system to consume more resources, resulting in faster battery drain.
To pause OneDrive sync when battery saver mode is enabled, click the gear icon in the OneDrive window and select "Settings." In the OneDrive Settings, choose "Sync and Backup" from the left sidebar, then turn off the toggle next to "Pause syncing when this device is in battery saver mode."
Lastly, I would recommend limiting the download and upload speed of OneDrive. Having no cap on OneDrive's internet usage will not only consume more bandwidth but also affect your system's overall performance. To limit OneDrive's internet consumption, go to OneDrive Settings, select "Sync and Backup" from the left sidebar, and click the "Advanced Settings" drop-down menu on the right. Enable the toggles next to both "Limit Download Rate" and "Limit Upload Rate," and enter the speeds you want to allocate to each in their respective fields.
Turn Down or Disable Visual Effects
Next, you need to adjust the Windows visual effects to improve your system's overall performance. To do this, open the Start menu, type Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, and press Enter. In the Performance Options window, select "Adjust for Best Performance," and then click "Apply" and "OK."
Note that selecting this setting will disable all animations on your system. If you want certain animations to remain enabled, select the "Custom" option and check the boxes next to the animations you want to keep. Then click "Apply" and "OK" to save the changes.
These were two Windows features Microsoft wants you to configure if you are experiencing constant lag and jitter on your system. In addition to these two suggestions, Microsoft's support page also highlights other actions you can take to improve PC performance. These include regularly updating Windows , disabling unnecessary startup applications , freeing up space, and using ReadyBoost. a
