It is a brand-new app designed to enhance performance on both Windows 11 and 10. Initially, PC Manager was launched for the Chinese PC market as it improves PC performance by disabling problematic programs. So, if you want to know more about this new program, you are just at the right place.
How to Install and Use Microsoft PC Manager on Windows 11 and 10
In the following guide, we will discuss the Microsoft PC Manager on Windows 11 and 10 in detail. The steps to install it, its features and how it performs.
Install Microsoft PC Manager on Windows
Before we begin, you need to be sure your computer supports the new PC Manager program. The program can run on Windows 11 and 10 (1809 or above). If you do not know the Windows build of your PC, follow the steps below to check the Windows details of your computer. Windows Settings » System » About. Now that you are aware of the Windows version and if it supports the necessary criteria, proceed with the following steps to install Microsoft PC Manager.
- First, you have to download Microsoft PC Manager on your computer. You need to go to pcmanager.microsoft.com on your computer and click the Free Download button. Note: The website is in Mandarin. But the app supports the English language. It will switch to your system’s default language once installed. Microsoft may have already added English support for the website when you are reading this article.
- Double-click on the MSPCManagerSetup.exe file to initiate the installation process.
- After that, you have to follow the on-screen instruction to complete the installation of Microsoft PC Manager. It’s a light application. The installation file is only 5.7MB. So, the installation shouldn’t take long.
Using Microsoft PC Manager: A Quick Peek at All the Features
Microsoft PC manager for Windows 11 and 10 comes with multiple essential features. Let’s have a look at them.
Boosting PC Performance
This is essentially the feature that made the PC manager desirable to the users. After installation, you need to click the Start Menu. Alternatively, you can use a Desktop Shortcut. The app is available on the System Tray, accessible to you all the time. So, to boost your PC’s performance, you just need to click on the Boost button. The app will remove all the unnecessary and temporary files to free up memory automatically. We were able to test the app, and it performed admirably. The junk files were wiped completely and reduced memory usage. So, whenever you feel like your PC is lagging, click on the Boost button.
Checking PC health
Boosting the PC performance is not the only feature of PC Manager. Another great feature is Health Check. It’s a feature to locate potential issues with your Windows PC. The program basically looks for all sorts of junk files.
However, the program not only looks through the temporary files but also the Windows cache, system logs, and recent file lists. It will also recommend you set Microsoft Edge as the default browser in case you are using more resource-hungry browsers like Google Chrome. Probably, Microsoft’s another way to market its browser.
Lastly, the Health Check feature on the PC Manager will also suggest you disable selective apps during startup to enhance the boot time.
Manage the Storage
Managing the storage of your PC is a great way to ensure its health and optimum performance. So, PC Manager provides an option to perform a deep clean operation that is found under Storage Management. Basically, this is the disk cleanup feature of Windows 11/10, but Microsoft made it easily accessible via this app. Once activated, this app locates all the disposable files on your PC and provides the option to remove them immediately. You can really remove everything from the upgrade files of the older Windows installation to the non-essential files of Microsoft Defender. Ultimately, this feature helps you to free up space. It looks for everything, provides a list in front of you, and then, you need to decide which ones to keep and which to delete.
Disabling the Startup Applications
Startup apps are one of the most common reasons for slowing down a PC. Disabling the startup apps is a great way to accelerate the booting speed of your computer or performance in general. What happens is that every time you log into your Windows 10/11 account, a few applications launch automatically. It slows down the process. In some scenarios, you may even have to wait 1-2 minutes before you can use your computer. So, disabling these unnecessary apps are the best way to boot your PC faster. On PC Manager, you can enable/disable the startup apps seamlessly from the Startup Apps tab.
Resource Consuming Applications
PC Manager can disable applications that eat through the memory of your PC. The option is available under Process Management. Here, PC Manager shows all the apps that consume memory by running background processes.
An average Windows 11 PC runs about 140 -145 processes without any active applications. Just imagine where the number would go with active applications. So, if you have multiple processes running on your PC, use PC manager to disable them. Simply click End next to the app’s name to stop the process immediately.
Updates & Security
There’s a Security tab in the Microsoft PC Manager too. This has a lot of options. You can access it and launch a quick scan to get rid of all the threats and malware.
By the looks of it, Microsoft Safety Scanner or MSRT has been integrated into the PC Manager. It’s convenient and provides easy access.
There’s also a Windows Update section. Here you will find all the necessary features, OS updates and driver updates. You also get the option to choose which updates you want to install.
The Browser Protection feature lets you enable a new setting that prevents malicious applications from changing the default browser on Windows 10 and 11. It’s a really good feature or security measure, whatever you want to call it. However, this is restricted only to Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome. They may extend it to Firefox and Opera later. The annoying part is that PC Manager will reset your default browser after every reboot.
Lastly, PC Manager also has a Pop-up Management feature. It blocks pop-ups within applications. By the looks of it, this was designed to stop adware from running havoc on your PC and ruining the experience.
Final Impression of Microsoft PC Manager
This is everything you need to know about Microsoft’s new PC Manager app. It may look like another bloatware, but it brings some of the necessary PC maintenance features in a single place. There’s no need to go deep into Windows Settings anymore.
Currently, PC Manager is available as Public Beta to select regions only. So, it’s not conclusive at the moment. Microsoft may decide to add new features or eliminate a few. However, the idea is excellent. Windows Settings is vast, and most users are unaware of all the features and options that come with the OS. It is great that Microsoft is taking the initiative to put all the necessary features into one application.
Microsoft PC Manager houses all the essential settings under one roof. It is easier for the users. They can access the settings quickly to improve PC performance. So, this is essentially designed for PC maintenance. You can disable startup apps and end programs eating through the RAM, enable browser protection, and more. But you shouldn’t compare it with 3rd party cleaner tools available on the market. PC Manager is better, even at this beta stage.
Also Read: How to Enable and Use System-Wide Live Captions in Windows 11
