The best programs for defragmenting a hard drive on Windows. The best programs for defragmenting a hard drive on Windows OS Download a program for optimizing and defragmenting

The hard drive is one of the most important components of a computer, but not all users pay due attention to it. If the processor, video card, RAM and other components fail, they can be quite simply replaced, while if the drive breaks down, the computer owner will lose all his data, which no one wants. To avoid failure hard drive, you need to carefully monitor it and regularly defragment it.

What is disk defragmentation

The defragmentation process is very simple and very important, but many people forget about the need for it. It is the organization of files on the hard drive in such a way that the operating system can access them more easily and quickly when requested.

As the hard drive is running, new information constantly appears on it. The user downloads files from the Internet, installs programs and games, creates new documents, and performs a number of other tasks. When information is stored on a hard disk, it occupies a certain number of free clusters on it. At the time of deleting, modifying, copying files, the clusters are cleared, but free space is formed between one and the other file on the hard disk. Disk defragmentation is necessary to organize the files on the disk, and they sequentially followed each other, and there were no free clusters between them.

Disk defragmentation on Windows is necessary because:

Some users are aware of the need for defragmentation, but do not perform it. This is due to the fact that this process is very long, and it can take up to ten hours to organize files on a large drive. At the same time, the procedure time can be significantly reduced, for this it is enough to perform it monthly, as recommended by manufacturers. hard drives. The more often you do defragmentation, the less data on the drive will have to be moved, and therefore this process will be faster.

Important: Defragmentation is only necessary on spinning hard drives, not on SSD drives. The process of defragmenting a solid state drive will only lead to a decrease in the number of write cycles to it, but will not give a performance boost.

How to defragment a disk

To do disk defragmentation, you need to run the appropriate process. The Windows operating system contains a special tool that allows you to defragment your hard drive. Unfortunately, it is not perfect, and in most cases it is more convenient to use third-party utilities. Different programs contain their own drive defragmentation algorithms. Below we will give an example of several such applications and show you how to do the job of ordering clusters using the system tools.

Defragmenting a hard drive using Windows

If you are wondering how to defragment a disk in Windows 10 or earlier operating system, it is quite easy to do so. To run the standard defragmentation tool, you need to:

Please note that in this menu item you can also configure "Scheduled optimization". When selecting the appropriate item, you must specify the frequency of the process and the hard disk / disks that will be subjected to it. After that, the system will automatically defragment the drive according to the selected schedule.

Programs for defragmenting a hard drive

There are dozens of applications that allow you to defragment your hard drive. Each of them has its pros and cons. Some are better for large hard drives or hard drives that are installed on servers, while others are good for home use. Below we propose to consider a couple of free hard drive defragmentation programs.

The simplest and most convenient application for defragmenting a hard drive on home computer is the Defraggler. The free version of the program, which can be downloaded from the official website of the developers, does not have wide functionality, but it copes with its main task.

The application is officially localized into Russian, and it allows you to defragment not only the entire disk, but also a separate program or folder. The program also provides an option with a quick disk defragmentation.

Auslogics Disk Defrag Free is a free version of the application of the same name from Auslogics. You can also download it from the official website of the developers. The application is slightly more functional than Defraggler, and it does not have Russian, which makes it more difficult to work with. At the same time, the program has a number of functions that are not available in the official Windows hard disk optimization tool and in the Defraggler application.

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 does not have to move the read head to do so. The disk controller software will allow you to read the entire file at one time, which will significantly increase the speed of the disk subsystem.
It should be noted that defragmentation and its software are only useful for systems with hard drives. In the case of using SSD drives, no head movements occur, and the controller of such a drive takes care of the placement of data blocks itself, without requiring external intervention.

Although each of the operating Windows systems equipped with its own program for defragmenting hard drives, the use of third-party free software is fully justified, as it allows you to better and faster complete this process.

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

Screenshot of Defraggler v2.20.989 on Windows 8

One of the best free defrag software. It can be both in the version for installation on a hard drive, and in a portable version. To reduce the operating time, you can set the optimization not only for the entire disk, but also for individual folders.

Defraggler can start when the computer boots up, 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 the beginning of it to those files that are used often.

Piriform, which released the program, is also known to users for its other popular products - CCleaner (system cleanup) 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. Automatic defragmentation settings even in free version outperform many competitors in many ways.

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

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

In addition, in the settings you can set the preliminary deletion of unused and temporary files of the operating system and browser internet explorer to free the disk. Cached data is removed to speed up the process and exclude unnecessary and temporary data from it.

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 comes in two versions: an installable version and a portable version for distribution on removable media.

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 improves the overall performance of your computer by reducing system response time.

Like many other software, Auslogics Disk Defrag allows you to start the process at boot time. In addition, the hard drive can be checked with using chkdsk for errors, you can optimize it, add or exclude folders and directories from the process, run background checks, you can delete temporary files before starting defragmentation.

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

Puran Defrag has its own data optimization engine, the Puran Intelligent Optimizer (PIOZR). This engine, according to the manufacturer, intelligently moves files in such a way that they are located as much as possible on the outer areas of 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 of time and, having read more data, ensures high computer performance.

Like many other programs on this list, Puran Defrag can defragment files and directories by right-clicking the context menu in an Explorer window. It can delete various temporary data before optimization to speed up its process, it can work during computer boot to access those files that are not available in normal mode.

In addition, the software has some specific settings and features. So its work can be started according to the schedule by setting the number of hours of system downtime after which it is necessary to turn on, you can program disk defragmentation during the launch of the Screensaver (screensaver).

In addition, you can start the process, for example, when you turn on your computer for the first time for the current day, or when you turn on the machine for the first time in a week or a 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 under Windows control 10, 8, 7 and earlier.

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

Disk Speedup is another free program for defragmenting a hard disk, which can work not only with the entire volume, but also with 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. So you can exclude from processing files with fragments less than 10 megabytes, files consisting of more than 3 fragments, having a size of more than 150 megabytes. All these values are configurable.

In addition, you can send large, rarely used files, files of certain formats (for example, video, graphics, archives, etc.) to the end of the disk, thus leaving small and frequently used data at the beginning of the disk. Thus, it can be expected that the HDD head will not have to jump too often from one area of the disk to another during 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 software from the manufacturer, however this behavior can be stopped during installation by simply unchecking the corresponding checkboxes in the installer dialog.

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

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

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, it can schedule its launch at a later time.

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

Runs under Windows 8 and below.

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

All the usual features for this class of free programs are also present here: scheduling, the ability to start during system inactivity, the ability to manage computer power.

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

Another feature of the software is the ability to select files and folders to be moved to a special area on the disk (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 after the defragmentation process is completed.

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

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

Free version software by O&O 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 being able to run scheduled scan and repair on the desired day of the week, O&O Defrag Free Edition can be programmed to start when the screensaver is launched.

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 not available in the free version and are present only in the paid version. Therefore, it may happen that by enabling some option, the user will receive a message that in order to receive this option, it is necessary to upgrade to a paid option.

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

Screenshot of UltraDefrag version 7.0.0

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

Most of the functions are similar to other software, at the same time, if you need to defragment during computer boot, 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 relocatable version. In addition, there is a version of the program for 32-bit systems and a version of the program for defragmenting Windows for 64-bit Windows systems.

The developer claims that the program is designed for Windows 8 and below, but testing has shown that it functions perfectly in various versions of Windows 10.

A program created by a lone programmer. Formerly called JkDefrag. Like the previous version, it can work both in a simple mode for beginners or undemanding users, and provide complex configuration options to follow the exact instructions of the user.

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

Works under all Windows operating systems.

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

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

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

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

All this happens gradually, but if the disk has not been defragmented for a long time, the speed of work can 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 continuously.

This simplifies access to programs by reducing the distance traveled by the hard drive's read heads. Top Programs for defragmentation

Useful information:

Defraggler

IObit SmartDefrag

The high-speed Russian program provides placement of files by one of better ways, as it uses the most efficient scripts.

The 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 - 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 both a desktop computer, a laptop, and a workstation can be restored.

The advantages of a defragmenter are:

Special installers for embedding a user script;
Automatic setting of the defragmentation mode;
High speed analysis and optimization;
Process charts;
Extended functionality when working in the network;
The presence of a multilingual interface (there is also a Russian version);
Support for all types of Windows, from XP and Vista;
Automatic selection of bit depth (32 or 64) for better work in the corresponding operating system;
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 standard program that is built into operating systems.

To access it, you need:

Open the "Start" menu;
Start typing the word "defragmentation" in the search bar;
Go to the corresponding utility that appears in the search results;
Run disk defragmenter.

The same can be done if in the "Start" menu, first find the item "standard", and then "service".

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

The need for manual defragmentation

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

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

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

In Windows 7 and later, the ability to defragment an SSD is excluded by default, and the standard utility starts automatically from time to time, which is quite enough to optimize the system.

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

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

Auslogics Disk Defrag- free hard drive defragmenter personal computer. Using Auslogics Disk Defrag in Russian, you literally reanimate your PC's hard drive. The program will independently put things in order in the file system of the computer, organize all the data, optimize work with them. This, in turn, will affect the operation of the operating system as a whole. You will notice that programs run faster, and the number of errors when working with files will noticeably decrease.

Comparing Auslogics Disk Defrag with the standard Windows counterpart, you can see real benefits. Auslogics Disk Defrag creates a separate fragmented block into which it transfers all system files and folders. Such a procedure, in the future, will allow you to get quick access to these files, which will favorably affect the operation of the system. If you decide to defragment your computer's hard drive, you can run a preliminary scan of the hard drive and issue a complete report on the state of the disk, the so-called disk map. Also Auslogics Disk Defrag latest version allows you to run the process in the background or program it to automatically defragment. If you do not need to do a full defragmentation of the HDD or SSD, you can perform this operation with individual files and folders. This will greatly save your time.

Main features of Auslogics Disk Defrag for Windows 7, 8, 10:

Defragmentation of the hard drive in a short time;
Ability to run defragmentation in the background;
Ability to configure defragmentation automatically;
Ability to pre-analyze the hard drive;
Possibility to get a full report, make a disk map;
Ability to create a separate fragmented block;
Consumes few system resources;
Simple, intuitive interface.

Disk Defragmenter on Windows 7, 8, 10 it happens almost imperceptibly, the program does not affect the performance of the computer in any way, as it consumes little of its system resources.

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

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

Do you need a fast defragmenter? In this case, Smart Defrag from IObit is the best choice. This is one of the most quick utilities to defragment a hard disk, 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 or more are installed on almost all computers and laptops.

The main advantages of the Smart Defrag program:

3 modes of hard disk defragmentation - simple, deep, with optimization;
works in the background (does not prevent you from doing your own business);
high security of files (if the electricity is suddenly turned off, nothing will happen to them);
optimized to work on Windows 7, 8, 10 and XP;
completely in Russian;
free.

By the way, this utility can be configured to automatically defragment the hard drive at the right time. And it's very convenient.

Auslogics Disk Defrag

Another great 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 in automatic mode.

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

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

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:

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

Also, this defragmentation utility supports automatically shutting down a laptop or computer after the process is completed. Therefore, it can be safely run at night or before leaving for work.

MyDefragGUI is a simple utility that will be a great replacement for the built-in Windows defragmenter.

Main advantages:

efficient file defragmentation;
the presence 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 Ashampoo's Magical Defrag. By the way, products from these developers are always warmly received by ordinary users, and this hard drive defragmentation utility is no exception.

It belongs to the "plug and play" programs. The developers themselves emphasize that Ashampoo Magical Defrag works quietly and imperceptibly, i.e. starts the defragmentation process only when almost all the resources of the computer or laptop are free. Therefore, you simply will not notice any glitches and brakes.

Instead of a conclusion

The top five freeware (or shareware) hard drive defragmenters have been listed above. Therefore, if you do not like the built-in Windows defragmenter (or it does not work for some reason), install any utility. The links to them are given above, so you can easily install the program that you liked the most.

Personally I use IObit Smart defrag. But this is just purely my opinion.