Make Your Computer Fast Again with Claude

Claude checks your computer, finds what's slowing it down, and explains everything in plain language. It changes nothing without your permission.

Set up Claude

You need Claude desktop with two things turned on before you run the prompts.

1. Open Claude desktop, click the + button, choose Add folder, and pick your home folder (for example C:\Users\YourName on Windows or /Users/YourName on Mac).
2. Go to Settings → Computer use and turn it on. This lets Claude read Task Manager and the Startup apps page.
3. When Claude asks for access, approve the popups.

Prompt 1: Find what's slowing it down

This is your starting point. Claude opens Task Manager, reads every running process, and lists the heavy ones with a plain explanation of what each one is and whether it's safe to close.

What's slowing this computer down? List and explain everything using over five percent of CPU or memory. Don't close anything yet.

What you'll see: a ranked list with app names, memory or CPU usage, and a one-line plain-English explanation for each. My result: memory was at 86%. Chrome was using ~1.9 GB, Claude ~1.7 GB, CapCut ~625 MB.

Prompt 2: Review your startup apps

Startup apps are programs that launch automatically every time you turn on your computer. Most people have dozens they never use. Claude lists all of them, tells you which ones you actually need, and only disables the ones you pick.

Show me every startup program. Tell me which ones I need. Disable only the ones I pick.

What you'll see: the full startup list with a recommendation for each entry. I had 35 startup apps and only 3 were turned on. Claude suggested which ones to cut and waited for my go-ahead before touching anything.

Prompt 3: Find your biggest files

Old downloads, duplicate videos, and forgotten exports pile up fast. This prompt finds your 20 biggest files without touching system folders (which can take forever to scan).

Quickly find the twenty biggest files in my user folder, skipping system and hidden folders. Show their sizes. Delete nothing until I give my permission.

What you'll see: a list of 20 files with sizes. Mine came to ~37 GB across 20 files: old video exports, Google Drive zips, and duplicate project copies. I also had a 97.6 GB Docker disk file I had completely forgotten about.

Prompt 4: Keep it fast every month

This last prompt sets up a scheduled task that runs all three checks on the first of every month and sends you a summary report. It never deletes anything on its own.

Run all of this on the first of every month and send me a report. Set it as a scheduled task.

What you'll see: Claude creates the scheduled task and confirms it's set. On the first of each month, you get a report. No surprises, no automatic deletions.

Pro tips before you start

• Always say "delete nothing" or "close nothing until I give permission." You stay in control at every step.
• The scheduled task only runs if your computer is on with Claude desktop open on the first of the month.