One of the ways to increase the efficiency of a modern computer is a disk defragmentation program - an application that rationally distributes data across a storage device.

With its help, even an inexperienced user can speed up the computer.

And, if their size has increased, it may turn out that the new information will be placed not in the adjacent sector, already occupied by other data, but in another part of the hard drive.

As a result, the file takes longer to access and the overall program startup time increases.

All this happens gradually, but if the disk has not been defragmented for a long time, the operating speed may drop by 10–20 percent or even more.

Defragmentation is a process that allows you to move parts of files so that they are located contiguously.

This simplifies access to programs by reducing the distance traveled by the read heads of the hard drive. The best programs for defragmentation

Helpful information:

Defraggler

IObit SmartDefrag

The fast Russian program provides file placement in one of the best ways, as it uses the most effective scripts.

Data is placed on the fastest sections of the disk, and the system runs much faster.

The main advantages of the application include a high degree of file security, which is not threatened even by a sudden accidental shutdown of the computer while SmartDefrag is running.

In addition, defragmentation can be carried out in three modes (simple, deep and optimized).

O&O Defrag

A well-known program is, if not the best, then at least one of the most popular.

It is often used by advanced users to move parts of files to places where they can work with maximum efficiency.

With the help of O&O Defrag, the performance of a desktop computer, laptop, and workstation can be restored.

The advantages of a defragmenter are:

1. Special installers for embedding a custom script;
2. Automatically configure defragmentation mode;
3. High speed of analysis and optimization;
4. Process charts;
5. Expanded functionality when working on the network;
6. Availability of a multilingual interface (there is also a Russian version);
7. Supports all types of Windows, ranging from XP and Vista;
8. Automatic selection of bit depth (32 or 64) for better performance in the corresponding operating system;
9. Special mode for mobile PCs (netbooks and laptops).

Windows Tools

If for some reason (for example, there is no Internet access, Windows is protected from installing third-party applications, or there is a possibility of infection with a virus), you cannot download the defragmentation utility, you can use the standard program that is built into operating systems.

To access it you need:

1. Open the Start menu;
2. Start typing the word “defragmentation” in the search bar;
3. Go to the corresponding utility that appears in the search results;
4. Run disk defragmentation.

The same can be done if in the “Start” menu you first find the “standard” item and then “utilities”.

This method is suitable for Windows 7 and XP. And for Windows 8 and 8.1, you can open the search bar even faster by pressing the Win + Q combination.

Then the defragmentation utility is located in the same way and the process starts.

The need for manual defragmentation

Manual defragmentation is not always practical on some operating systems and modern hard drives.

For example, SSD media not only do not need optimization, but even wear out from frequent use of this process.

Moreover, such disks will not work faster even after defragmentation.

In Windows 7 and later versions, the ability to defragment SSDs is disabled by default, and the standard utility runs automatically from time to time, which is quite enough to optimize the system.

Old versions of Windows require mandatory manual defragmentation. Although this problem can be solved by updating the system.

If this is impossible to do, you will have to use either built-in software or a third-party one - preferably one from the list of the most popular and free ones, since paid applications do not provide any advantage.

Defragmentation programs allow you to rearrange parts of files on your hard drive so that fragments of the same file are located sequentially. This allows the hard drive to read and write information faster.

In other words, defragmentation makes reading a file faster because the hard drive doesn't have to move the read head to do so. Disk controller software will allow you to read the entire file in one go, which will significantly increase the speed of the disk subsystem.
It should be noted that defragmentation and defragmentation software are only useful for systems with hard drives. When using SSD drives, no head movements occur and the controller of such a drive itself takes care of the placement of data blocks, without requiring external intervention.

Although each Windows operating system comes with its own program for defragmenting hard drives, using third-party free software is completely justified, as it allows you to complete this process better and faster.

Note: only free programs are presented here, which are usually enough to perform defragmentation efficiently. Links to programs can be found at the bottom of the article.

Screenshot of Defraggler version v2.20.989 on Windows 8

One of the best free defragmentation programs. It can be either in a version for installation on a hard drive or in a portable version. To reduce operating time, you can specify optimization not only of the entire disk, but also of individual folders.

Defraggler can start working when the computer boots, check the disk for errors, empty the Recycle Bin before starting its work, exclude pre-defined files from the defragmentation process, select rarely used files and move them to the end of the disk to leave its beginning for those files that are used often.

The company that released the program, Piriform, is also known to users for its other popular products - CCleaner (system cleaning) and Recuva (data recovery).

Defraggler can be installed on Windows 10, Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP operating systems, as well as on server families of Windows operating systems.

Screenshot of Smart Defrag version 5 on Windows

The free program is great for automatically optimizing files on a schedule. The automatic defragmentation settings, even in the free version, are in many ways superior to many of its competitors.

The program allows you to start moving hard disk blocks while the computer boots, thus gaining access to system files or files pinned during normal Windows operation.

In addition, Smart Defrag allows you to exclude individual files or folders on the disk from the defragmentation process, replace the standard Windows operating system application, optimize only Windows Metro interface applications, and skip files of a certain size.

In addition, in the settings you can specify the preliminary deletion of unused and temporary files of the operating system and Internet Explorer browser to free up the disk. Cached data is removed to speed up the process and eliminate unnecessary and temporary data.

The program can be installed on computers running Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP operating systems.

Screenshot of Auslogics Disk Defrag version 6 on Windows 7

Auslogic's disk defragmenter software is available in two versions: an installation version and a portable version for distribution on removable media.

The settings allow you to move Windows system files and program libraries, as the most frequently used data, to areas of the disk that are read the fastest. This setting allows you to increase the overall performance of your computer by reducing system response time.

Like many other software, Auslogics Disk Defrag allows you to start the process while your computer is booting. In addition, the hard drive can be checked for errors using chkdsk, it can be optimized, folders and directories can be added or excluded from the process, background scans can be run, and temporary files can be deleted before starting defragmentation.

Auslogics Disk Defrag, even in its free version, works on almost all user versions of the operating system - Windows 10, Windows 8 and earlier.

Puran Defrag has its own data optimization engine - Puran Intelligent Optimizer (PIOZR). This engine, according to the manufacturer, intelligently moves files so that they are located as much as possible on the outer areas of the hard drives. At the same time, at the same speed of rotation of the disk spindle, the head manages to travel a greater distance per unit time and, by reading more data, ensures high performance of the computer.

Like many other programs on this list, Puran Defrag can defragment files and directories when you invoke the right-click context menu in an Explorer window. It can delete various temporary data before optimization to speed up its process; it can work while the computer is booting to access those files that are not accessible in normal mode.

In addition, the software has some specific settings and capabilities. So its work can be started according to a schedule by setting the number of hours of system inactivity after which it needs to be turned on, you can program disk defragmentation during the startup of the Screen Saver (screensaver).

In addition, you can start the process, for example, when you turn on your computer for the first time in a current day, or when you turn on your machine for the first time in a week or month.

Along with undeniable advantages, the program has disadvantages. So many researchers note that Puran Defrag tries to install a number of third-party programs during its installation.

Puran Defrag is compatible with many operating systems. And can be run on Windows 10, 8, 7 and earlier.

Screenshot of the company's Disk Speedup program © Glarysoft.com

Disk Speedup is another free hard drive defragmenter program that can work not only on the entire volume, but also on individual files and directories on it. You can start the file optimization process after a specified number of minutes of system inactivity have passed.

The software has some specific settings. This way, you can exclude from processing files with fragments less than 10 megabytes, files consisting of more than 3 fragments, and larger than 150 megabytes. All these values ​​are adjustable.

In addition, large, rarely used files, files of certain formats (for example, video, graphics, archives, etc.) can be sent to the end of the disk, thus leaving small and frequently used data at the beginning of the disk. In this way, you can expect that the HDD head will not have to jump from one area of ​​the disk to another too often in its normal operation, which will lead to an increase in the performance of the system as a whole.

Among other things, Disk Speedup can be launched during system boot, can exclude individual folders and files from processing, automatically turn off the computer when the process is completed on one or more disks, and work according to a set schedule.

Note: Disk Speedup tries to install some other programs from the manufacturer, but this behavior can be stopped during installation by simply unchecking the appropriate boxes in the installer dialog.

The program is declared to work on computers running Windows 8, 7, Vista and other operating systems, including server ones. Independent testers checked the operation of the software on a computer running Windows 10 - everything functioned without any complaints.

Free program from ToolWiz Software. It is characterized by a very fast installation process on a computer and a minimal interface. It is stated that this software can optimize the hard drive 10 times faster than the standard Windows tool. It can move archives to a special slow part of the hard drive, giving small system files quick access.

The program shows the number of defragmented files on the disk, it really does its job very quickly, it can show the overall level of fragmentation, and it can schedule its launch at a later time.

While sometimes it's nice to have a tool that's lightweight and simple to perform a function without being cluttered with unnecessary buttons or settings, sometimes they're very necessary. So Toolwiz Smart Defrag is designed in such a way that almost nothing can be configured in it. If your priority is to find the easiest to use, but effective and fast program, this is one of the best options.

Works under Windows 8 and below.

WinUtilities DiskDefrag is not a completely specialized program. This is an optimization system that includes, among other things, a disk defragmentation module. However, it is a fairly simple and highly customizable tool.

All the usual features for this class of free programs are present here: work on a schedule, the ability to start while the system is idle, and the ability to control computer power.

In the settings, you can set more than 10 behavior options: analysis only, analysis and moving rarely used files to the end of the disk, etc. In addition, you can control the estimated time for optimization, exclude folders and files.

Another feature of the software is the ability to select files and folders to move to a special area on the disk (the SpaceHogs area), where the program tries to place large and rarely used objects. Therefore, in manual mode, you can flexibly configure your computer so that it works as quickly as possible.

In the settings, you can set the need to automatically turn off the computer when the defragmentation process is complete.

The hard drive optimization module in the program can be found by selecting the menu item “Modules > Optimize & Improve > Disk Defrag”.

The program works perfectly in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems.

The free version of O&O Software's software features a simple and well-designed user interface. Even in the free version, it contains most of the features available from competitors - disk optimization, viewing all fragmented disks, checking the disk for errors.

In addition to the ability to run scheduled scans and fixes on a specific day of the week, O&O Defrag Free Edition can be programmed to start running when the screen saver starts.

For those who do not want to deal with the settings, it is possible to launch the settings assistant.

Some of the necessary features are missing in the free version and are present only in the paid version. Therefore, it may happen that when turning on some option, the user will receive a message that in order to obtain this option it is necessary to upgrade to a paid option.

Works under almost all common Windows operating systems. From Windows 10 to 8, 7, Vista. However, in reviews of this software, sometimes there are messages that it was not possible to fully launch it on a particular machine.

Screenshot of UltraDefrag version 7.0.0

The program is intended for both beginners and advanced users. Along with simple settings, there is an option for more complex actions, so regardless of the user’s experience, the program can be used equally effectively.

Most of the functions are similar to other software, but at the same time, if you need to defragment while the computer is booting, you must have basic skills in working with batch .bat files.

There is both a version of the program for installation on a computer and a portable, portable version. In addition, there is a version of the program for 32-bit systems and a version of the Windows defragmentation program for 64-bit Windows systems.

The developer states that the program is intended for Windows 8 and lower operating systems, but testing has shown that it functions perfectly in various versions of Windows 10.

A program created by a single programmer. Previously called JkDefrag. Like the previous option, it can work both in a simple mode for beginners or undemanding users, and provide complex configuration options to follow the user’s exact instructions.

The program can execute pre-created scripts containing defragmentation tasks. Scripts can be changed (created and edited) by the user himself. Moreover, during installation the program already contains a number of standard scripts. So she can work according to a schedule, analyze the hard drive, and allocate free space on it. The default settings are great for those who do not want to understand all this and want to use the program for its intended purpose.

Works under all Windows operating systems.

And this article will discuss the best programs for defragmenting your hard drive. All of them are free, and you can easily find them at the office. developers website (links will be provided). Some of them are in Russian, some are in English. But it is very easy to understand the programs, since they have a simple and intuitive interface. And most importantly: it is the same almost everywhere.

All of the utilities below work on Windows 7, 8 and 10, and some also on XP. And you can install them on any computer or laptop running on these OS.

Do you need a fast defragmenter? In this case, Smart Defrag from IObit is best suited. This is one of the fastest utilities for defragmenting a hard drive, and this does not affect the quality of the process itself. And all because the developers managed to create effective scripts that can significantly speed up the execution time of this procedure on large hard drives. Today this is very relevant - especially considering that HDD drives with a capacity of 1 TB and higher are found on almost all computers and laptops.

The main advantages of the Smart Defrag program:

• 3 modes of hard drive defragmentation - simple, deep, with optimization;
• works in the background (does not interfere with your business);
• high security of files (if the electricity suddenly goes out, nothing will happen to them);
• optimized to work on Windows 7, 8, 10 and XP;
• entirely in Russian;
• free.

By the way, this utility can be configured so that it automatically defragments the hard drive at the right time. And this is very convenient.

Auslogics Disk Defrag

Another excellent free defragmentation program (in Russian) is Auslogics Disk Defrag. This is also a fairly fast defragmenter, which, moreover, takes up very little space. The impressive speed of this process is ensured by the fact that the utility transfers files to the fastest part of the hard drive - and as a result, this has a positive effect on the operation of the OS itself.

Main advantages:

• supports Windows XP, 7, 8 and 10;
• works in the background;
• can run defragmentation automatically.

By the way, it has a distinctive feature - it can defragment both local drives and individual folders with files.

It is recommended to use the Auslogics BoostSpeed ​​program on your computer or laptop. This is an excellent utility for optimizing and cleaning your PC, which has many useful tools - including the above-mentioned Disk Defrag. With Auslogics BoostSpeed ​​you can not only defragment your hard drive, but also clean the registry, speed up the Internet, optimize services, etc.

Defraggler is the best disk defragmentation software. At least that's what many users think. It is very simple, convenient, and most importantly – free.

Its main advantages:

• defragments the hard drive quickly and efficiently;
• supports all versions of Windows (32 and 64-bit);
• entirely in Russian;
• can defragment the registry, as well as individual files.

Also, this defragmentation utility supports automatic shutdown of the laptop or computer after the process is completed. Therefore, you can safely run it at night or before leaving for work.

MyDefragGUI is a simple utility that is an excellent replacement for the built-in Windows defragmenter.

Main advantages:

• effective file defragmentation;
• availability of a task scheduler;
• small size;
• There is a portable version.

In addition, MyDefragGUI can defragment all types of drives - built-in and external hard drives, USB flash drives and memory cards.

Ashampoo Magical Defrag

Another great free defragmenter is Magical Defrag from Ashampoo. By the way, products from these developers are always warmly received by ordinary users, and this utility for defragmenting a hard drive is no exception.

It is a “set it and forget it” program. The developers themselves emphasize that Ashampoo Magical Defrag works quietly and unnoticeably, i.e. starts the defragmentation process only when almost all the resources of the computer or laptop are free. Therefore, you simply won’t notice any glitches or slowdowns.

Instead of a conclusion

Listed above are the top five free (or shareware) programs for defragmenting your hard drive. Therefore, if you do not like the built-in Windows defragmenter (or it does not work for certain reasons), install any utility. Links to them are given above, so you can easily install the program that you like the most.

Personally, I use IObit Smart Defrag. But this is just my opinion.

Despite the fact that users prefer to use third-party ones, we recommend the one built into the Windows 7 and 10 operating system (for Windows XP it is still better to choose an external tool). And there are a number of very significant reasons for this.

1. Saving resources. The built-in defragmenter in Windows does not have additional modules that constantly hang in memory and show us how beautiful they are and what great benefits they bring by showing us hourly lists of files that they defragmented, as third-party products like to do.

2. Unified sorting algorithm, which was chosen by Microsoft (Windows authors). In the absence of comparative tests, it is impossible to understand which file sorting algorithm is better. Therefore, we give preference to the algorithm from Microsoft, since in this case they know better which sorting option is more suitable for their operating system.

3. SSD support. All modern Windows, from 7 to 10, support working with SSDs. The Windows defragmentation program is no exception in this regard - it detects the presence of an SSD drive and automatically skips this drive without defragmenting it. Third-party utilities often claim that SSD defragmentation is necessary and perform some of their own dubious sorting algorithms for this.

4. Scheduled work. The built-in Windows tool can be configured to run automatically. In Windows 7, to do this, you just need to set the day and time to start (you can also configure the computer to automatically turn on for this, and turn off when completed, if you plan such procedures for the night). In Windows 10, everything is even simpler - defragmentation is carried out automatically during system downtime. This happens as part of an optimization process that's built into Windows 10 and starts automatically the moment you step away from your computer.

Many people underestimate the importance of a process such as defragmentation. However, it is the presence of such a program that will save you from many problems associated with freezes and errors in system processes. The process of defragmentation is to organize files and system elements in such a way that the operating system has better access to the necessary data, which optimizes and speeds up all computer processes.

When you actively work on a computer, constant changes occur in the file system: you download, edit, transfer, delete something. And all these files occupy a certain space on the hard drive, measured in clusters. When you delete or edit content, some clusters may become empty, leaving empty space between files of the same destination or even the same program.

Thus, the operating system has to find connections between torn files of the same order, which can lead to slowdown of processes or even loss of any function if there are too many “shards” of the utility and they are located in different parts of the hard drive. The defragmentation process organizes items and files, moving them around so that there are no gaps or empty spaces between them. This qualitatively optimizes the operation of the operating system.

How to defragment

Defragmentation can be done using a program already built into the operating system by default. To use this function, you need to click “Start”, go to the “All Programs” section, find “Accessories” there, select “System Tools” from them and click on “Disk Defragmentation”. You can choose which drive you want to defragment or schedule defragmentation for a specific time or day to check regularly.

However, it is recommended to use third-party defragmenters, since the built-in program does not cope with the task very well, providing only minimal system optimization. We recommend downloading specially designed utilities as they usually have advanced features such as defragmentation followed by optimization, white space defragmentation and many others. On our website you can download such popular and universal defragmenters as