Free PC Health Check Software for Windows 11/10

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Maintaining your PC's health is essential for ensuring optimal performance, stability, and system longevity. Whether you use your computer for work, gaming, or daily browsing, ignoring system health can lead to slow performance, hardware failures, or even data loss.

The good news? You don't need expensive software or professional services to keep your computer in check. Several reliable free PC health check tools for Windows 11/10 can help you analyze system performance, clean up junk files, and troubleshoot potential issues—all with minimal effort.

In this guide, we'll explore what a PC health check is, built-in Windows options, and the best free third-party tools to keep your Windows computer running at its best.

What Is a PC Health Check?

A PC health check refers to assessing your computer's hardware, software, and overall system status to identify problems or inefficiencies. Regular health checks help prevent slow performance, overheating, outdated drivers, excessive background processes, and storage issues.

The process can cover areas such as:

• CPU and RAM usage
• Storage space and disk health
• Operating system updates
• Driver status
• Malware protection
• Startup optimization

Manual checks can be tedious, especially for non-technical users. That's where automated health check software comes in—they streamline the process, providing actionable insights with just a few clicks.

Built-in Windows Tools for PC Health Check

Before jumping to third-party tools, it's worth knowing that Windows 11 and 10 include several built-in utilities to assess your system's health:

Windows Security

• Provides virus, malware, and threat protection.
• Checks for device security and firewall status.

Task Manager (Performance Tab)

• Monitors real-time CPU, memory, disk, and network usage.
• Identifies apps consuming excessive resources.

Disk Cleanup

• Removes temporary files, system cache, and other unnecessary files.
• Frees up disk space to improve performance.

System File Checker (SFC)

• Detects and repairs corrupted or missing system files.
• Run via Command Prompt: sfc /scannow

Windows Memory Diagnostic

• Scans for faulty RAM or memory issues.
• Helpful for troubleshooting system crashes or blue screens.

Limitations

While these tools are handy, they often require manual input, lack advanced features, and don't provide a holistic view of your system. For more comprehensive maintenance, third-party health check software can help.

Best Free PC Health Check Software for Windows 11/10

Let's explore the most trusted free PC health check tools available in 2025, their features, pros, and limitations:

1. Microsoft PC Health Check

Originally designed to verify Windows 11 compatibility, this lightweight tool provides useful system information:

Features:

• Confirms if your PC meets Windows 11 requirements.
• Displays device specifications (RAM, storage, processor).
• Suggests ways to improve device performance.
• Backup options via OneDrive.
• Check for Windows updates.

Best for: Quick system check and upgrade readiness for Windows 11.

2. CCleaner (Free Version)

A household name in PC maintenance, CCleaner's Health Check provides basic system cleanup and optimization:

Features:

• Removes junk files, browser cache, and temporary files.
• Fixes registry issues.
• Controls startup apps to speed up boot times.
• Basic system health reports.

Best for: Cleaning junk files and improving general system responsiveness.

3. Advanced SystemCare Free

Developed by IObit, Advanced SystemCare Free offers an all-in-one solution for system cleanup and optimization:

Features:

• Junk file cleanup.
• Privacy protection by removing tracking files.
• Registry fixes.
• Startup optimization.
• Real-time system monitoring.

Best for: Users seeking a simple, one-click system optimizer.

4. Glary Utilities Free

Glary Utilities offers a powerful suite of over 20 tools to maintain and repair your PC:

Features:

• Junk file removal.
• Disk cleanup and repair.
• Registry cleaning.
• Startup manager.
• Duplicate file finder.
• Memory optimization.

Best for: Power users wanting deeper control over system maintenance.

5. Wise Care 365 Free

A lightweight, beginner-friendly alternative for optimizing your Windows PC:

Features:

• System tune-up tools.
• Privacy protection.
• Junk file cleaner.
• Startup program management.
• Disk defragmentation.

Best for: Quick, no-fuss system cleanup for casual users.

6. HWiNFO

Unlike general maintenance tools, HWiNFO focuses on detailed hardware diagnostics:

Features:

• Real-time monitoring of CPU, GPU, motherboard, storage, and more.
• Temperature, voltage, and fan speed tracking.
• Detailed hardware reports.

Best for: Enthusiasts, gamers, and tech-savvy users monitoring hardware status.

How to Choose the Right PC Health Check Tool

With multiple options available, selecting the right tool depends on your needs:

• For General Users: CCleaner or Advanced SystemCare offer simple cleanup and optimization.
• For Power Users: Glary Utilities provides in-depth maintenance tools.
• For Hardware Monitoring: HWiNFO offers unmatched hardware diagnostics.
• For Beginners: Wise Care 365 strikes a balance between ease-of-use and functionality.
• For Official Checkups: Microsoft PC Health Check ensures your system is Windows 11 ready.

💡 Caution: Always download software from official websites or trusted sources. Avoid unknown tools that claim to boost performance—they can contain malware or cause system instability.

Step-by-Step: Performing a PC Health Check Using CCleaner

Here's how to use CCleaner Free to perform a basic health check:

Step 1. Download & Install:

Visit www.ccleaner.com. Download the free version and install the software.

Step 2. Launch CCleaner:

Open the program and click on Health Check. Click the Start button and it will start to scan and check the PC.

Step 3. Run the Health Check:

CCleaner scans for trackers, junk files, performance issues, and security recommendations. Click Make it better to apply suggested fixes.

Step 4. Review Results:

After the scan, CCleaner will show how much space was freed and improvements made.

Repeat this process regularly to keep your system optimized.

Tips for Maintaining Long-Term PC Health

Software tools help, but healthy computing habits are equally important:

1. Keep Windows Updated

Windows regularly releases updates that include security patches, bug fixes, performance enhancements, and new features.

Why It Matters:

• Updates fix vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.
• They often resolve system stability or performance bugs.
• Feature updates improve user experience and compatibility with new software.

How to Check for Updates:

• Go to Settings > Windows Update.
• Click Check for updates.
• Install any pending updates and restart your computer if required.

2. Keep Drivers Up to Date

Outdated drivers can cause system crashes, hardware malfunctions, or degraded performance—especially for graphics cards, sound devices, and network adapters.

Driver Update Methods:

• Use Device Manager:
  • Right-click the Start button > Device Manager.
  • Right-click a component (e.g., display adapter) > Update driver.

• Visit manufacturer websites for critical hardware like GPUs (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).

3. Perform Regular Disk Cleanup

Accumulated junk files, temporary files, and browser caches can slow down your PC and waste valuable storage space.

Built-in Method:

• Type "Disk Cleanup" in Windows search.
• Select the drive (usually C:).
• Check categories like Temporary Files, Recycle Bin, etc.
• Click OK to delete selected items.

4. Manage Startup Programs

Many applications set themselves to launch at startup, which slows boot times and consumes system resources.

How to Disable Unnecessary Startup Apps:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Go to the Startup tab.
• Review the list of enabled apps.
• Right-click and select Disable for programs you don't need immediately at boot.

Common Culprits to Disable:

• Third-party cloud services (unless essential).
• Updater apps.
• Chat or messaging apps not used frequently.

Reducing startup clutter can significantly improve boot times and responsiveness.

5. Monitor Hardware Temperatures and Health

Overheating can lead to system crashes, throttling, or permanent hardware damage, especially in laptops or gaming PCs.

Tools for Monitoring:

• HWiNFO (Free) – Detailed, real-time temperature and voltage monitoring.
• Core Temp or HWMonitor – Lightweight alternatives for CPU and GPU monitoring.

Temperature Guidelines:

• CPU idle temperatures: 30°C to 50°C.
• CPU under load: Should stay below 85°C for most systems.
• GPU under load: Below 85°C is ideal for most graphics cards.

6. Backup Important Data Regularly

Data loss can occur from hardware failure, malware attacks, or accidental deletion. Regular backups prevent permanent file loss.

For example, you can use Donemax Disk Clone to make a full and bootable clone for your PC. If there are issues with the PC, you can still have a backup of your files and get your computer working again quickly.

Here is how to make a full disk copy with the software:

Step 1. Run the software and connect an empty external drive to your PC. Change to Disk Clone mode. Choose your PC drive as source and the external drive as destination.

Step 2. Preview the disk layout on the destination disk before the disk cloning process is executed. If necessary, you can edit and change the disk layout as you want.

Step 3. Click the Clone button to continue. The software will start to cloning the PC drive to the external hard drive. It can make a full and bootable clone backup.

7. Uninstall Unnecessary Software

Many pre-installed or third-party apps run in the background, consume RAM, and may even display ads or notifications.

How to Remove Bloatware:

• Open Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
• Review the list and uninstall anything you don't use or recognize.

8. Scan for Malware and Threats

Malware infections can significantly impact performance, compromise security, and damage files.

Windows Built-in Protection:

• Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
• Run a Quick scan or Full scan.

9. Periodically Check Storage Health

Hard drives and SSDs can develop bad sectors or wear down over time, impacting performance or leading to failure.

For HDD/SSD Health:

• CrystalDiskInfo – Free tool showing drive health status, temperature, and read/write errors.
• Consider replacing aging drives if they show warnings.

10. Defragment (HDD) or Optimize (SSD) Drives

Fragmentation can slow HDD performance, while SSDs benefit from periodic optimization.

💡 Note: Do not defragment SSDs; Windows handles their maintenance automatically.

Conclusion

A sluggish PC doesn't always mean it's time for new hardware. With the right free PC health check software, you can dramatically improve system performance, identify problems early, and extend your computer's life.

Windows 11 and 10 users have plenty of reliable options—from Microsoft's own tools to feature-rich third-party software like CCleaner, Glary Utilities, and HWiNFO.

By combining regular health checks with smart computing practices, your PC can stay fast, stable, and secure—without spending a dime.