What is the best alternative to IObit Smart Defrag? ; Disk Defrag · 3 · 2 · 1 · System files optimization ; PerfectDisk · 4 · 3 · 1 · Spacial integrity ; Defraggler · 8 · 5. There are more than 10 alternatives to IObit Smart Defrag for Windows and Mac. The best alternative is Defraggler, which is free. Other great. We think that Smart Defrag is not only good but among the best defrag tools for Windows. It delivers excellent results, defrags disks quickly, and uses low.
Smart defrag best option - consider
IObit Smart Defrag: A Superb Hard Drive Defragmentation & Optimization Tool [Windows]
Do you defrag your hard drive? If not, you should and you must understand the importance before you read on. There are some excellent articles on MakeUseOf which discuss defragmenting, but perhaps the best and most recent article is 3 Excellent Defrag Utilities & Why You Still Need to Defragment In by Tina. IObit Smart Defrag wasn’t included in the "3 excellent defrag utilities" in her article, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t excellent.
Whether you are in need of some defragmenting software or are looking for an alternative, Smart Defrag, is an fantastic option – so fantastic that we’ve included it on the Best Of Windows Software page.
Installing IObit Smart Defrag
As with any good software, Smart Defrag installs relatively quickly and easily. However, there are a couple windows you should make note of during the installation. Towards the beginning of the installation you are prompted to install a toolbar – don’t… unless you have a unexplainable love for them. I simply see no need for them, ever.
The second “do not install this” window is IObit’s very own Advanced SystemCare Ultimate. This isn’t pointless like the toolbar and is great software, as we’ve actually reviewed it here at MakeUseOf.
Note: These windows and the software in them are subject to change at any time.
The key is to always be on the lookout for additional software that may be offered (but not required) to add to your computer during the installation. It’s important to understand that additional software offered during the installation and setup of a program, doesn’t make the said program malicious. It just makes it free. That said, you should always be careful what you download and install.
For more information, there is a MakeUseOf article on how to avoid installing additional software when installing the program you really want.
After you finish the installation you should be prompted with a window to configure the language (currently supports 33 to date) and theme - Default (black) or white.
Exploring The Interface & Configurations
Once you’ve configured your theme and language, the main window will appear.
There are several important areas to make note of. In the top right corner, left of the Minimize, Restore and Close buttons there are the Skin, Settings and Support links. Skin simply lets you change the theme between dark and light.
Settings contains several other options, which we’ll go into more detail later in the article. Support allows you to view the user manual, access technical support and view information about the current version of Smart Defrag which you have installed.
Next is the area which each of the drives are listed. If you have an external hard drive plugged in or multiple hard drives, these will be listed here as well. In addition, you can add a file or folder to be defragmented specifically.
The next section contains several tabs: State, Automatic Defrag, Boot Time Defrag and Report.
State is simply a map of the current condition (or state) or your hard drive. Each color represents something different. To understand them, you can hover over the individual colors next to “Map.”
This can also be customized by clicking on them. You can always revert back to the default colors by clicking “Reset” at the end of the colored boxes.
In this area, to the far right, there’s also the option to shut down your PC after the defragmentation is completed.
You also can control the defragmentation process from this tab with the buttons: Defrag, Analyze, Pause and Stop. The dropdown menu on Defrag includes options to do a fast optimize or full optimize in addition to defragmenting. According to IObit:
[The] optimize method will intelligently organize drive data for maximum performance and long-lasting data contiguity.
Note that choosing to optimize will increase the defragmenting time significantly.
Automatic Defrag works by defragmenting the file system while your PC is idle. From this tab you can toggle it being on and off for each of your drives. You can also see live charts of CPU and disk usage, as well as statistics for files automatically defragmented.
Next to the on/off toggle button, there is a link to configure Automatic Defrag. This can also be accessed through the Settings in the upper right corner.
Boot Time Defrag allows you to defrag files which cannot be safely moved while Windows is running and occurs during the startup.
You can view statistics and history of past defragmentation of files. Like Automatic Defrag, there is a switch to toggle Boot Time Defrag on and off. And right next to that, there’s a link to configure it further.
Report is just as the title implies, it contains reports of the most recent defragmentation.
Included in Report is a before and after fragmentation rate; a summary - all and defragmented files and directories, and elapsed time; and a detailed list of all the files and directories which were defragmented. You can also save the report as a text file to refer back to later.
You should note that because Smart Defrag is free, it also includes an ad banner at the bottom. Thankfully, it isn't invasive or annoying. In fact, it even uses the same theme as the rest of the program. Just click the "Hide latest news" link to tuck away the ad banner.
Additional Settings & Options
Although some of the settings have already been touched upon, there are still several more that haven’t. First, are the General Settings.
In this window you have options such as minimizing to the system try, automatically loading when Windows starts up and enabling tooltips in the system tray.
Options specific to defragmenting include enabling Smart SilentTechnology, stopping the defragmentation process when running on batteries (useful for laptops) and not displaying removable drives.
You can also decide if you want to skip files larger than 1 GB and decide what that maximum is (ranging from MB to 10 GB) and if defragment should occur when fragments exceed 1%, 3%, 5% or to always run.
Scheduled Defrag is another very useful option which is highly recommended. As the name implies, it allows Smart Defrag to run without you prompting it to.
From this window you can toggle Scheduled Defrag on and off, change which method it uses and which drives are defragmented when it is run. The Configure button allows you to adjust when the scheduled defrag will occur and whether it should start (or not) when the computer is running on battery and if it should stop if the laptop starts running on battery during the defrag process.
Exclude List allows you to prevent certain files and folders (including their subfolders) from being defragmented.
Lastly, User Interface has controls for adjusting transparency, making disk map color accessible for those who are color-challenged, and changing the language.
Conclusion
IObit certainly isn’t the only option, be we at MakeUseOf feel it is definitely one of the best. And that is why we included it on your Best Of Windows Software page.
Do you use Smart Defrag already? What is your favorite feature? In your opinion, how does it compare to the other defragmenters which we’ve listed on the Best Of Windows Software page?
Smart Defrag
Smart Defrag 3 hits all the notes you'd expect from a defragger, but it is too aggressive in terms of advertising. It throws recommendations for other programs at you at every turn. Still, it makes up for that pestering with performance that rivals most defrag programs for Windows.
This program tries to replace Windows' default defragmentation widget by being more advanced and offering more style, features, and customizations. We're not kidding about replacing, either -- the program will turn off your usual defragmenter and install other programs if you don't uncheck those options during install, so be careful. Once you have Smart Defrag 3 installed, you'll be very happy with its futuristic layout that offers some customization and a nice hard drive map that is a delight to read. It lets you set automatic and boot time defrags, as well -- but you might want to program those to happen when you're not using your computer, as the program took upwards of 30 minutes to defrag when we tested it. It was smart enough to recognize our SSD and not defrag it, though. The program has an "action center" that claims to recommend performance fixes, but they are all just recommendations for other programs made by the app's developers.
It's not as if those programs are bad, by any means, it's just a little obnoxious to see nonstop advertisements for other programs. Outside of that and somewhat slow performance, Smart Defrag 3 offers everything you'd want in a defragmenting program. It's a fine replacement for Windows' default and compares favorably to top programs like Defraggler.
Smart Defrag Review
It is one of the best free defrag software available on the internet.
All you have to do is download it and install it then just forget about it because it will automatically do most of the work.
You can just set it to run constantly in the background and it will automatically perform actions depending on what you are doing.
The feature of system cleanup is really awesome. You can just easily analyze the disk clean up the junk.
It usually cleans up more areas than most of the defrag programs you will use. After using it you will see the difference yourself and the best thing about it that it doesn&#;t do clean up automatically. You can choose the files which you want to be cleaned up.
If you like this post on IObit&#;s Smart Defrag then share your opinions and experiences with us in the comment section and don&#;t forget to share it with others.
Check Out Smart Defrag Now
Categories Reviews, Technology
Pros
Faster Setup
Quick Disk fragmentation
Affordable Pricing
Discounts on Pricing plans
Available in more than 40 languages
Compatible with Windows 10//8/7/Vista/XP
Improved Defrag Engine
SSD trimming
Instinctive Graphic Interface
Up to % Internet speedup with Internet Booster
Cons
It doesn’t have a resource-throttling setting.
In this post, I've featured IObit's Smart Defrag Review. Everyone is aware of the defragmentation process. Read More about Smart Defrag Here!!
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Best disk defragmenter tools
Don't underestimate what the best disk defragmenter tools can do for your machine – they could enhance your life. Imagine going from a laggy response to speedy, keeps-up-with-you fast computer interactions. The difference could be in a disk defrag.
Drives are bigger than ever now meaning there is more and more data to fill them, which needs working through each time you want to access certain files. By having everything defragmented, so the computer knows where to find it immediately, you can have a far smoother experience. This software, essentially, tidies up your drive so that it can run more efficiently.
Since fragmenting happens as you use your machine, this is a constant battle that needs to be carried out. That's why the best disk defragmenter tools are essential as an ongoing ally in the work of keeping your machine running optimally. It's worth noting though that this only happens on spinning hard drives, so if you have a solid state drive (SSD) you won't need this software at all. You can defrag an SSD, technically, but you're not going to see any real difference in performance and it means you're potentially overusing the drive which could lead to a shorter lifespan in the longer term.
It's also worth looking at the best repair software (opens in new tab) for your PC to get the best experience and then adding in one of the below options which represent the best of the best defragmenter tools you can get right now.
1. O&O Defrag: Best disk defragmenter tool overall
O&O Defrag
If you want loads of features and a clean design, you can't beat O&O Defrag
Reasons to buy
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Huge range of features
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Updated hard disk and SSD algorithms
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Straightforward design
Reasons to avoid
The powerful algorithms, broad range of hard disk and SSD features and the sensible, straightforward interface make O&O Defrag the top choice. O&O’s Defrag application has been one of the most popular defrag tools for years now, and it’s no wonder – this utility is easy to use and packed with powerful settings.
The latest iteration, version 24, includes new features that make the optimization process smoother and more powerful. The underlying defrag engine has been reconfigured to support new features in Windows 10, and a new installation method picks the best settings for your PC – so you can install and start using the app without any extra configuration. There are updated methods for optimizing and extending the lifespan of SSDs too, which is important – many of us use SSDs, but many apps are still based around hard disks.
These new features are bolstered by powerful, familiar functionality. The core defrag algorithm is market-leading and has been made faster in this release, and the app has a disk cleaning tool to remove temporary and unnecessary files. It’s got automatic background and scheduled functionality, filters so you can easily find your most fragmented files, and you can access lifetime statistics so you can see exactly what space and time you’ve gained.
The app is straightforward, with clear options, quick defrag features and graphics that show you the state of your drives. Extra features can inspect individual file clusters, determine file positions and throttle system resources so you can still use your PC while the app works. You can even optimize the files required when your PC boots.
This app’s only real weakness is its lack of a free edition, but the Professional, Workstation and Server versions are affordable, with prices that range from $30 to $ – and those latter apps give additional features for administrators who want to keep a network of PCs in top condition which go a long way to justifying the higher prices.
2. Defraggler: Best for overall PC health
Defraggler
This one will give your whole PC a decent health-check
Reasons to buy
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Slick hard disk and SSD options
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Supports scheduling
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Includes benchmarking
Reasons to avoid
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Pro version is expensive
Defraggler’s free version is an effective tool for defragging hard drives without weighing down your system, but we’d recommend that app bundle – you get more features alongside extra tools that can manage your entire system.
Defraggler is made by a company called Piriform, and that firm is one of the most experienced when it comes to PC optimization and management – it also produces CCleaner, Recuva and Speccy, which are well-known tools for looking after your system.
Piriform’s defrag tool has a free version, which serves up all of the key options for keeping your hard disk in shape – and it can use its algorithms to keep your SSDs organised, too. It works with external drives as well as internal disks, and you can defragment specific drives and folders. It has a benchmark tool to evaluate your performance improvements, and you can analyze drives to determine whether or not you need to run any defrag processes. Scheduling is supported, but the app can’t start defragmentations when your system is idle.
Defraggler serves up straightforward charts to illustrate what’s going on with your drives. Upgrading to Piriform’s Professional edition costs a hefty $25 and nets you better support and automatic updating, and spending an affordable $30 will get you Piriform’s entire family of apps – Defraggler Professional will be included alongside CCleaner, Speccy and Recuva’s professional versions. That’s a far better deal.
3. IOBit Smart Defrag 6: Best defrag for gamers
IOBit Smart Defrag 6
If you're running a gaming rig and need an HDD clean, this is for you
Reasons to buy
+
Game-specific options
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Loads of features elsewhere
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Pro version is cheap
Reasons to avoid
-
Ads included in free version
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Tries to install extra software
IOBit’s Smart Defrag lives up to its name, with options that allow for a huge amount of customization on an app-specific basis – handy if you’re a gamer or professional user who wants to keep certain software running at peak performance. It’s even got a Game Optimize mode that can be used to deliver a smoother and faster gaming experience.
Beyond that, Smart Defrag has an impressive slate of options – you can defrag entire drives, specific files and folders or specific apps, or defrag your system files when you boot the PC, so the computer has been optimised before you start work. Smart Defrag works with hard disks and SSDs, and it supports scheduled scans.
Handily, Smart Defrag has a free version, but be aware that you’ll have to skip past some extra apps during the installation process and deal with ads when you boot the software. This app also can’t perform defrags when your system is idling. The Pro version costs a reasonable $12 and includes new features, like disk health monitoring and specific large file defrags. This is a good defrag app, and it’s a great option for gamers.
4. Puran Defrag: Easiest to use
Puran Defrag
If you need easy, rather than feature-filled, then Puran is a perfect fit
Today's Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Effective, usable interface
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Registry and scheduling tools
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Utilities suite available
Reasons to avoid
-
No portable option
-
More features available elsewhere
Puran Defrag is the best option if you’re not a particularly advanced PC user but if you still want an app that can keep your hard disks and SSDs in top condition.
This free tool has an impressively slick and simple interface that makes it easy to get started. Booting the tool loads up a clear list of your drives, a map of their storage setup and obvious options to analyze and defrag the disks. There are options to make the task low-priority to stop it impacting on your system’s performance, to shut down the PC after the defrag has completed and to customize the boot, defrag and disk-checking process.
There are more options if you delve into Puran’s extra tabs. There are detailed scheduling options, Registry defragmentation tools, an intelligent optimizer to increase system speed and options to exclude specific files or files at certain sizes from operations. Sadly, the app doesn’t have a portable version and can’t manually run free space defrags. And, while it’s easy to use, other apps do have more features and slicker interfaces – and offer more detail when it comes to seeing exactly what’s been defragged.
Puran Defrag’s free version is an effective tool if you don’t want something too complicated, and you can also download Puran’s free Utilities suite, which also serves up tools for disk cleaning, file recovery, gaming, disk wiping and much more.
5. Auslogics Disk Defrag: Best disk defragmenter for pro-PC users
Auslogics Disk Defrag
If you're a pro-PC user this software will give you more control
Reasons to buy
+
Very fast operation
+
Broad range of options
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Works with SSDs
Reasons to avoid
-
Potentially confusing interface
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Some features missing in free version
This app places a huge emphasis on getting your defrag operations completed quickly – Auslogics boasts that it usually takes less than ten minutes to complete operations on a standard hard disk.
This tool is ideal for those in a hurry, then, and it has a good slate of features elsewhere. It has specific routines for different kinds of drives, it can remove temporary and unneeded system files, and its operations can be scheduled and set to run when your system is idle.
Elsewhere, Auslogics can exclude files and folders from defrag runs, run analyses and quick defrag operations, provide reports on your PC’s status and even just defrag the files and applications that you use most often. There are more options deep within the app, including settings to change how the charts look, use different features for SSDs and move system files around on your hard disk – to improve boot times.
The free version is packed with features, and there aren’t many downsides – the only issue is that the interface and the broad selection of options may be confusing for less knowledgeable users. If you spend $25 on the Pro version you get loads more, including specific SSD algorithms, better disk cleanup options and free space wiping alongside better scheduling options and a license for use on three different PCs.
There are free applications out there that have more options, but Auslogics’ Pro version is packed with versatility, and the free and paid versions are both extremely fast. This is the ideal defrag tool if you have a need for speed.
6. Glarysoft Disk SpeedUp: Best free option
Glarysoft Disk SpeedUp
If you'd rather pay nothing, and put up with fewer features, Glarysoft has you covered
Reasons to buy
+
Primarily a free tool
+
Good core functionality
+
Automatic and scheduled defrags supported
Reasons to avoid
-
Misses some advanced features
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Doesn’t work on removable drives
For most of us, though, Glarysoft’s free version will be more than adequate thanks to its effective design and decent functionality. It’s our top choice if you just want a free defrag tool.
Glarysoft Disk SpeedUp is the best option if you want a free, unfussy and effective defrag tool. Booting the software loads up a clear picture of your drive health and clear options for improving it – pick a drive and you can run analysis, defrag the drive, optimize the storage and choose to turn your PC off after the operations are complete.
Glarysoft’s app supports individual file and folder defrag operations, and you can run operations with different levels of priority – so you can speed things up if you want the defrags to finish quickly or slow them down if you’d like to keep working while the app does its thing. This tool can automatically start defrag processes if your system is idle, and you can choose how long it needs to be idle for before processes begin, and basic scheduling is also supported.
The fact that Disk SpeedUp is free means that some functionality is missing. It doesn’t work on removeable drives, it doesn’t integrate into Windows Explorer and it doesn’t have a duplicate file finder, and other apps offer more customization and faster operations. It does have a small advert in the corner, too, but it’s far less intrusive here than on other free tools.
Happily, though, this app has ample functionality for most mainstream defrag operations. It also forms part of Glary Utilities, which is a suite of more than twenty tools for PC optimization. A Pro version is available for $20, and it includes free technical support, commercial usage rights and enhanced optimization features – including for Disk SpeedUp.
What is defragmentation?
Put simply, defragmentation is the removal of fragmentation from a computer hard disk. That then poses another question: what is fragmentation? The files on your hard drive aren’t always stored in continuous blocks, operating systems sometimes have to stop writing a file halfway through because they encounter data they can’t delete, and have to finish writing the file elsewhere on the disk, leaving behind a little forwarding address for the rest of the data.
What this means when your PC comes to read the file back is that it takes longer than it should, as the drive head reads half the file, then follows the forwarding address to where the rest is located before finishing its read. Defragmentation restores the files to continuous blocks, so the drive head can read them in one go and doesn’t have to go hunting around in the rest of the disk.
You’ll note from all this talk of drive heads that we’re talking about spinning mechanical hard drives here, and not the newer SSDs. Solid State Drives and Flash drives are much faster, and don’t store their data in the same way as a spinning hard drive, so fragmentation isn’t a problem and defragmenting one would only contribute to them wearing out.
You can defrag external drives if you want to, especially if they’re frequently used, as it may improve performance, but the way those drives are written to - long sequences of writes for stored data, with fewer reads and rewrites - means they’re less likely to suffer from fragmentation. External hard drives are also slow when compared to their internally connected cousins, so you’re less likely to notice a drop in performance due to fragmentation. It’s much more useful if you’ve got an internal hard drive that houses an operating system, or some other data that requires lots of little writes and rewrites while the computer is active.
How does defragmentation software work?
Once you begin a defrag, there’s an analysis phase while the software works out the location of every piece of data on the disk, which data it should be stored next to, and which bits are fragmented. It may produce a map of your drive showing you the types of data.
Once you ask it to defrag, it can be quite a long process, as it’s an intensive operation that cannot be carried out on a drive with no free space. This is because the software copies the fragmented data from the places it is stored into the free space, where it reassembles it. Then it moves data around on the drive until there is a block of free space available that can hold the data. It then copies the data into this block, and deletes it from the temporary holding space. If your drive is heavily fragmented, this can take a very long time. You’ll know if it's been successful because the defrag software will tell you, and you’ll be able to see from the data map that your files are now held in continuous blocks rather than being scattered across the disk.
Many modern operating systems, such as Windows 10/11 and MacOS, defrag in the background if they think it’s necessary, sorting out fragmentation the moment it appears rather than letting it build up. Modern file systems - the rules computers use to organize their writes to the disk - are also designed to avoid fragmentation.
You can open a built-in defragging app in Windows from the Start Menu, it’s called Optimize Drives, and this will scan your hard drives and tell you the percentage of fragmentation the data is suffering from. It recognizes the difference between hard drives and SSDs, and allows you to TRIM your SSDs - a sister process to defragmentation that empties all the space once taken up by deleted data and gets it ready for reuse. This again improves performance, as otherwise it would need to be done just before new data was written.
External and Portable storage defragging
In addition to ensuring your Windows machine is regularly defragged and running optimally, we also recommend defragging your external hard disk drives (HDDs). Because these drives don’t typically stay connected to your computer like the one built into your machine, they’re less likely to receive regular maintenance. If you use your external HDD frequently for saving and accessing programs and data, this is especially important to maintain.
In contrast, you do not need to run defragging software on a flash drive (also known as a jump, USB or thumb drive) or on an external SSD. These types of drives are physically different from traditional hard disk drives and don’t have to be defragmented; in fact, the process is usually damaging to them, potentially resulting in a loss of data or a ruined device.
On a side note, you can save your disk defragmenter software onto an external drive. You don’t have to save it onto the specific drive you wish to run it on. Keeping your software stored externally can be convenient in case your computer crashes, or in case you travel frequently and want to run the software on multiple computers. If the latter is true, you’ll want to make sure the software has enough licenses when you initially purchase it to be compatible.
Why you don't need to defrag Macs
When you search online for disk defrag software, you’ll see a million returns for defragging a Windows machine and few, if any, for a Mac. You may be curious why this is, but the answer is fairly simple: the file system within a Mac hard disk drive (HDD) is designed differently from one on a Windows computer. Macs actually defrag themselves automatically with built-in utilities, especially if it’s a newer version of the Mac operating system (anything after ). New Mac OS versions automatically check for fragmentation every time you access a file or program.
The only point at which you should be considering defragging a standard hard disk drive on your Mac computer is when less than 10% of storage space is available. When your HDD is this full, Mac OS is commonly unable to run its usual defragmentation program automatically. However, we recommend periodically going through your hard drive to delete old or unwanted files and programs to keep as much space available as possible, or to purchase a larger HDD that better suits your storage needs.
And as we’ve stated elsewhere in this article, you should never run disk defragmenter software on a solid-state drive (SSD). These drives are built differently and don’t fragment – plus, they are designed only to handle a limited quantity of writes and defrag software can lead to SSD damage or failure.
Freeware vs. Paid defrag software: which is best?
While defragmenting is a free service built into Windows 10/11 and MacOS, there are paid-for alternatives from third party developers on offer. These generally replicate a lot of the native functions, but add more of their own, particularly in the form of SSD optimisation tools that go beyond TRIMming.
Whether you need them or not, will depend entirely on individual use cases. Most hard drives and SSDs left to the operating system’s automatic maintenance routines need no more intervention than that - SSDs are fast enough even when running garbage collection routines, and a hard drive that’s a few percent fragmented is not going to suddenly grind to a halt because of it. Keeping a little free space on your drives - around 10% or so - is important as it enables defragging routines to operate. Macs in particular have a habit of not defragging properly if the drive is too full. Pick up one of the best external hard drives and offload some documents if your drive is more than 80% full.
There are also free third party options available, but we generally advise people to stay away from these unless they’re committed to open-source software. This is because, along with the software you want, you often also download adware, unwanted browser plugins, free trials for programs you don’t want, and more besides. This not only clogs up your system, but acts as a security risk, as many of the programs’ are designed to serve advertising to your PC. Others may demand your credit card details even though they’re meant to be free, or otherwise behave badly. They’re just not worth the hassle, especially as you have a free defragger right there.
Ease of use What you really want is a program you can set going, and which runs in the background, not bothering you until it announces it has finished. Some have different options for you to set, but we discovered that all of the apps on test provide comparable results if left on their default settings. Another useful feature is the display of statistics and detailed information about your drives, if you're interested in what’s going on in there.
Scheduling Being able to defrag outside of your work hours is important if you depend on squeezing every FLOP of power out of your rig. There is a performance penalty, both in terms of processor availability and disk bandwidth, but many users will never notice it.
Other scans Alongside defragmentation, programs may offer registry or driver scans. These are fine, but you need to know what you’re doing. Leaving them on ‘auto’ can lead to the removal or editing of something that your PC relies on to boot up, or use a critical piece of hardware. If everything is working properly, it’s often better just to leave it alone. A few registry entries hanging around from a piece of software you uninstalled are not going to harm your system, but blundering around in there when you don’t really know what you’re doing certainly can. The same goes for drivers, especially since Microsoft has moved to a new driver architecture that isolates them from the rest of the system. A bad driver can no longer lead to the blue screen of death in Windows (particularly as we move to Windows 11) and having some for hardware you no longer use isn’t a problem. They don’t take up much space. One thing driver scans are useful for, however, is identifying which drivers have updates available.
Verification If you spend money on defragmentation software and wait while it works, having some sort of visual feedback about what it’s doing is nice, and being able to verify that everything has worked properly, and that your drive is now in tip-top condition, is even better. Almost all defrag programs provide a visual map of your drive, but if you’re using a third-party program you can open the Windows app once it’s finished and let it analyze your newly defragmented disk to verify that everything has gone to plan. If the defrag didn’t work, you should still see fragmentation, with files and parts of files spread across the disk.
Alternatively, if you frequently write files to the drive, you might see a small increase in speed from it once it’s neatly organized. The act of writing and overwriting files, however, is what sets the fragmentation process in motion, so you’re in a constant cycle of checking and defragging.
Manual vs. Scheduled
You have full control over when your disk defragmenter program runs – you can put it on a schedule or use it manually whenever you need. Both options have pros and cons, and learning the benefits and downsides to each can help you use the software the most effective and efficient way for your situation.
When you set up a schedule for the software to run, you don’t have to stress over slow performance creeping up every few months or wonder why files are taking longer to access or run. Instead, you can rest assured that your hard drive is optimized. It’s a good idea to schedule your disk defrag software to run if you want to keep your computer healthy but aren’t very tech-savvy. Most of the programs we reviewed are easy enough to use, with clearly labeled buttons. Some even have guides that walk you through the entire process.
If you are an advanced user familiar with the ins and outs of this type of software, you are better off running the program manually. That way, you don’t have to worry about the software running scans and repairs it may not need. When you run it manually, you also have more granular control over the process, and you can run it on additional external hard drives if you want.
What is Boot Time Defrag?
Boot time defrag is typically only used by advanced users who are extremely knowledgeable about computers. By definition, boot time is the time between when you hit the power button and when your computer is ready to use. During this time, your computer starts executing instructions such as loading its operating system and connecting with peripherals like the mouse and keyboard. In a matter of moments, your desktop computer – or laptop or smartphone – is ready to use. On old computers, this process took several minutes, but with newer computers, it only takes a few moments.
Some people say that using defragging software during your computer’s boot time doesn’t make a measurable improvement in performance and isn’t worth the effort. But the general thought behind running boot time software is that since those files are used often (every time you boot up your computer), they surely must experience fragmentation, and by defragging them, you can make the process faster by a few milliseconds.
If you don’t want to mess with these files or deal with the risks of doing so, there are other things you can do to speed up your computer’s boot time. The best thing you can do is to disable programs that launch at startup. Yes, it’s convenient to have all your favorite programs open every time you turn your computer on, but it takes a toll on the machine, and it’s not too difficult to open them manually as you need them. You can also set them to open automatically but at a delayed rate. In addition, you can delete desktop shortcuts, delete old files and programs, install antivirus software, and ensure your drivers are always up to date.
How to verify your defrag was successful
After spending money on a disk defragmenter program and running the software to help optimize your computer, it’s nice to have a way to verify that everything worked properly. If you have compatible software, the easiest way to verify this is by opening up the program and looking at the current map of your hard drive. This visual should show you the location of your files and how they are currently distributed. Luckily, it shouldn’t be difficult for users to understand.
If the defragmentation was successful, you should see your files all together in a singular area of your hard drive. If the defragmentation was not successful, you will likely see files scattered across the entire disk. Here, you should be able to view original and newly-moved data, ensuring it’s all on the ideal part of your computer’s hard drive.
Another way to check if your defragmentation worked, although not quite as definitive of an answer as opening up the software, is to see if the overall performance of your computer has improved since you ran your most recent defrag. If things seem to be running faster and more smoothly, and it feels like you can access and open files more quickly, it could mean that your defrag was successful.
Mike Jennings has been a tech journalist for more than thirteen years, and he covers a wide range of topics, from gaming laptops and graphics cards to consumer software, business machines and high-end desktops. He’s written for PC Pro, TechRadar, Wired, Stuff, TrustedReviews, Custom PC, IT Pro, and many more outlets. He lives in the UK and is interested in gaming, writing and motorsport.
FREE: Smart Defrag &#; A defragmentation tool
IObit Smart Defrag is a free defragmentation tool with features that allow you to optimize automatic defragmentation.
Michael Pietroforte
Michael Pietroforte is the founder and editor in chief of 4sysops. He has more than 35 years of experience in IT management and system administration.
Latest posts by Michael Pietroforte (see all)
The two defragmentation tools, I reviewed previously (MyDefrag, Disk Defrag), have good features for manually controlling the defragmentation process. By contrast, IObit Smart Defrag certainly lives up to its name because automatic defragmentation is its strength.
Most defragmentation tools support scheduling, and so does Smart Defrag. However, this feature is disabled by default. This makes sense because Smart Defrag has something better to offer: Automatic Defrag.
The problem with scheduled defragmentation is that it can't always guarantee that the computer isn't busy at the scheduled time, and a desktop or laptop could be powered off at the scheduled time. Automatic Defrag always runs in the background and only starts defragmenting if the PC is idle. You can configure the PC's idle time, after which Smart Defrag becomes active, and you can tell the tool to pause whenever the resource usage exceeds a configurable percentage.
Smart Defrag's Boot Time defrag is another function that most free defragmentation tools lack. Some system files can't be defragmented during runtime because this would make the system unstable. You can configure Smart Defrag to defragment the pagefile, the hibernation file, the Master File Table (MFT), and other problematic system files when the computer boots up.
Yet another "smart feature" is quite useful for laptop users. Defragmentation can be automatically stopped when on battery. As disk activity is one of the biggest power consumers in a laptop, this feature will certainly improve the battery life noticeably.
You can't manually defragment specific files and folders as with Auslogics Disk Defrag. However, you can exclude files and folders from automatic or scheduled defragmentation. This can be useful if you don't want the tool to mess with an important database file.
Smart Defrag can also move frequently used files and directories into the fastest area of the disk. Unfortunately, it is unclear how the tool determines what files are frequently used. I guess, this feature only works for system files.
All in all, Smart Defrag is my favorite defragmentation tool from the three tools I have tested. It has the nicest user interface, and the background defragmentation convinced me. For scripting guys, however, MyDefrag is the best choice; if you often have to defragment specific files, Auslogics Disk Defrag is your best bet.
I tested Smart Defrag v on Windows 7.
IObit Smart Defrag ^
Smart Defrag v8 Review
Smart Defrag is a free defrag program that intelligently determines the best time to defrag your PC.
You can set it up to continually defragment your computer throughout the day, and even do so while it's rebooting. There are lots of settings that give you deep customization, setting it above most other free defrag tools.
Download Smart Defrag
What We Like
Scheduled regular and boot time defragging
Can automatically shut down after a defrag
Option to auto analyze for defrag alerts
Boot time defragmenting
Optimization and/or prioritization can be scheduled
Exclude files and folders from a defrag
Can defrag just the free space
What We Don't Like
Doesn't allow checking a drive for errors
Doesn't support idle defrags
Tries to install an unrelated program during or after setup
Some options seen in the free version are actually only usable in Smart Defrag Pro
This review is of Smart Defrag version , which was released on August 31, Please let us know if there's a newer version we need to review.
More About Smart Defrag
Works with the following operating systems: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
Supports running and scheduling a defrag during a reboot
Moves commonly used files to faster parts of the disk for quicker access
Option to replace the default Windows Disk Defragmenter program
A portable version of Smart Defrag can be found at PortableApps
When a defrag completes, the program shows a detailed report of every file that was defragmented
Option to shut down, sleep, hibernate, or reboot the computer once a defrag has completed
Can remove several types of junk files before starting a defrag
Able to defrag individual folders and files instead of the entire hard drive
Advanced Defrag Options
This program has unique features you may not find in similar software.
Boot Time Defrag
Under normal conditions, particular files in Windows are locked. You're unable to move these files because they're constantly being used. This causes a problem when you want to defrag those files, so Smart Defrag has an option to defrag the locked files.
The way this works is you set up the program to defragment the locked files when Windows isn't in use. The only time Windows isn't using the locked files is during a reboot, so Smart Defrag must run this type of defrag while your computer is rebooting.
It's from the Boot Time Defrag tab that you can enable this option. This is where you'll find the options for a boot time defrag.
Choose to enable boot time to defrag and then select any of the hard drives you have connected. The boot time defrag can be configured for the next reboot only, the first boot of every day, on every reboot, or the first boot on a specific day like every 7 days, 10 days, etc.
You also have control over what gets defragged. Pick from page files and hibernation files, MFT, and system files. There's a Specify files section in the settings that lets you defrag specific files of your choosing.
Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup is an area in the program's settings that you might miss if you're not looking for it. It lets you define portions of Windows that get scanned for junk files. You can have Smart Defrag clear out these files so it's not defragmenting them, which otherwise might make a defrag last longer than is necessary.
When you run a manual defrag, you can have these junk areas cleaned up. Some of the areas included in the scan are the Recycle Bin, Internet Explorer temporary files, clipboard, old prefetch data, memory dumps, and chkdsk file fragments. There's even an extra setting to enable secure file deletion using DoD M, one of the most popular data sanitization methods.
To run a disk cleanup with Smart Defrag, use the dropdown menu below the specific drive that should be cleaned, and select Disk Cleanup. Now when you run a defrag the hard drives you selected to be cleaned will run through that process first before starting the defrag.
Final Thoughts on Smart Defrag
Smart Defrag is one of the best free defrag programs. You can install it and completely forget about it. It can be set up to constantly run in the background and automatically adjust its actions depending on what you're doing.
We really like that you can do a system cleanup during a disk analysis to clean up junk files that you no longer need. Smart Defrag cleans more areas than all the other defrag programs we've used. However, it doesn't do it automatically. If the program could auto-clean the files before every defrag, there'd be little to complain about.
At the top of the program, under the disk drives, there's an option to add a file or folder to the list. You can include common files and folders that you wish to defrag on a regular basis. Also, when you right-click a file or folder in Windows and choose to defrag it with this program. We really like this feature. It's a simple way to track things you may know are always fragmented and have direct access to defragment them.
We're glad there's an exclude list in the settings. If you have data you don't mind contains fragments, then adding them there will exclude them from both an analysis and a defrag. Also, in the settings, you can choose to skip files that are over a particular file size, which is nice if you have many large files that would normally extend a defrag time if included.
Not all defrag programs support boot time scans, so the fact that this one does just adds to its awesomeness.
Something we're not a fan of in any program is when the installer tries to get you to install additional software. Smart Defrag might try to install another program during setup, but you can easily dismiss it.
Download Smart Defrag
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In this post, I&#;ve featured Smart Defrag Review .
Everyone is aware of the defragmentation process. It is a process where you make small parts of your storage disk to make it work faster.
IObit offers a lot of products on its official website and Smart Defrag is one of them.
We have seen distorted Disk defragmentation screens but this is the first disk defragmentation software that has a smart sleek and easy-to-use interface.
What Is IObit&#;s Smart Defrag?
It was designed to optimize file placement for quick startups.
It has a three-button interface in the disk defragmenter software from which you can specifically defragment your storage it lets you choose what and how to defragment it.
All of these buttons show your primary hard disk, windows apps, and an option where you can select specific files and folders.
Along with that on the top of the interface, you will see game and bootup optimization.
The developer of this software made it this way so you don&#;t have to waste time searching for information.
After installation of IObit&#;s Smart Defrag, it will automatically scan your computer without any manual initiation.
All you need to do is set it up and it will run smoothly and automatically.
It will monitor the performance of your PC. It has an option for manual scan also and it has a Trim button from which you can analyze your computer for errors.
With its exclusion feature, you can delete specific files and folders with an instant click. You will find this feature in the program&#;s settings.
Get 80% Off Smart Defrag Now
Features of Smart Defrag
Faster PC & Quicker Access Speed
Everyone faces problems because of slow PCs. That&#;s why we need Disk fragmentation to enhance the speed of the computer.
It has a faster multithreading defrag engine from which you can defrag your hard drive and replace your files and folders in those defragmentation parts.
This increases the speed of your system.
It also offers a better solution for faster access to data and amazing disk performance.
With that speed you can easily enjoy playing games with a faster launching speed, you can also copy files in your system within a few minutes depending on the size of the file.
We all love a fast PC and an awesome access speed of programs in it so to get that we can easily use IObit&#;s Smart Defrag software and it is free.
Quicker System Boot-Time
You usually face a problem in starting up an old computer because it takes time to start up and that can be really annoying.
Working on computers decreases as time goes on. Smart Defrag helps your computer is starting up quickly.
This problem can easily be fixed by this software.
It configures Boot Time of your computer and it moves those files on the hard disk which can not be moved easily and it helps in starting up the PC faster.
It simply decreases the boot time of your PC and it is one of the reasons why you should use this software.
Enhanced Game Performance
As a gamer, no one wants to wait for their game to load up. Loading time can really annoy you sometimes.
It also depends on the size of the game.
So to resolve that problem you can use IObit&#;s Smart Defrag because along with the features of defragmentation, it also has a game optimizer option from where you can optimize your gaming experience.
It boosts up the loading time and reduces it to nearly half and more.
Everyone loves to play games but nobody can wait for the loading time and usually, it happens because of our slow computer. To boost up the speed you need to have this software.
Boot Time Defrag
You know that some files in Windows are locked in normal conditions and moving those files can be a pain in the ass because these files are being constantly used.
When you try to defrag those files with a normal process then it causes a problem.
For that Smart, Defrag gives you an option to defrag those locked files. The working of this feature can only happen when the Windows is not in use and it only happens when you reboot your computer, so you must run Smart Defrag to defrag these locked files.
To enable this option you can go to the tab &#;Boot Time Defrag&#;.
In this tab, you can choose to enable boot time to defrag those locked files and you can choose any of the hard disks you have connected to the computer at that time.
After that, you can just add those files in those defrag parts.
Disk Cleanup
In the program settings of Smart Defrag, you can find this option.
In this option, you can select portions of Windows to be scanned for junk files and after that, you can let Smart Defrag clear out those files.
This is not the process of defragmenting, it just deletes those junk files.
On manual defrag, you can just clear these junk areas.
In the scan of these junk files, it scans Recycle Bin, Internet Explorer temporary files, clipboard, old prefetch data, memory dumps, and check file fragments.
You can also use DoD M to enable secure file deletion and this method is one of the data sanitization methods.
To clean up a disk you can use the dropdown menu of that specific disk which you want to clean and select the option of disk cleanup.
Who Should we Consider IObit&#;s Smart Defrag?
Every PC user face problems like the slow working of the PC, slow loading of programs, and more loading time for games every once in a while, and that can be really annoying.
You want your PC to work faster and start-up quickly.
But after some time you will face these kinds of problems so for that you need to defrag your hard disk because it is the center of all of your problems.
To get more space in your hard disk, you need to defrag it, and defragmenting a hard disk can be a little difficult if you are doing it manually because you also want to move some of your files into those parts but there is no option available for that.
For that, you can IObit&#;s Smart Defrag and it has a lot of options available for problems like that.
You will find much free defragmenting software on the internet but Smart Defrag is much more than just defragmenting a hard disk. It also improves the performance of your PC.
It has options like a game optimizer from which you can enjoy your games with less loading time.
Customer Support of Smart Defrag
IObit has a 24/7 customer support system available. You can get answers to all of your queries from the support team within a few hours.
This support system is also available for free version also which is a perfect thing. Sometimes we face problems using new software on our PC,
For that, we need some technical support from the software&#;s support team and IObit&#;s customer support system has some good reviews available on the internet.
Pricing of Smart Defrag
There is only one paid plan available and the basic features of Smart Defrag are free. In the paid versions you will get additional features with those basic features.
Basic (Free)
Defrag Hard Drive Data To Optimize Performance Of PC
Manual Scan
Basic PC Protection With Spyware Removal
Detection Of Malware In Real-Time
Pro ($)
All The Basic Features, Plus
Premium PC Cleaning
Auto RAM Clean Up to Eliminate Unused Programs and Processes
Scheduled PC Scan
Monitor System Working in Real-Time
Boost Up to % Faster PC Startup
Boost Up to % Faster Internet Speed With Internet Booster
Full PC Protection And Removal Of Deepest Malware
Capture Intruders With FaceID
Premium Surfing Protection
Protection of Personal Data from Untrusted Programs
Auto Update To the Latest Version
Click Here To Get 80% Off Smart Defrag Now
Pros and Cons of Smart Defrag
✔ Pros
Scheduled scans and defragging of boot time
Don&#;t need to shut it down manually after a defrag
It has an option to defrag only Windows Metro Apps
It also has an option to auto analyze for any defrag alerts
You can also defrag locked files with Boot-Time defragmentation
You can also defrag the free space also
❌ Cons
Doesn&#;t have an option to check a drive for errors
It also doesn&#;t support idle defrags
After installation, it may try to install a toolbar or an unrelated program
Some options shown in the free version is actually only available on the pro version.
Quick Links
FAQs
Smart Defrag v8 Review
Smart Defrag is a free defrag program that intelligently determines the best time to defrag your PC.
You can set it up to continually defragment your computer throughout the day, and even do so while it's rebooting. There are lots of settings that give you deep customization, setting it above most other free defrag tools.
Download Smart Defrag
What We Like
Scheduled regular and boot time defragging
Can automatically shut down after a defrag
Option to auto analyze for defrag alerts
Boot time defragmenting
Optimization and/or prioritization can be scheduled
Exclude files and folders from a defrag
Can defrag just the free space
What We Don't Like
Doesn't allow checking a drive for errors
Doesn't support idle defrags
Tries to install an unrelated program during or after setup
Some options seen in the free version are actually only usable in Smart Defrag Pro
This review is of Smart Defrag version , which was released on August 31, Please let us know if there's a newer version we need to review.
More About Smart Defrag
Works with the following operating systems: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
Supports running and scheduling a defrag during a reboot
Moves commonly used files to faster parts of the disk for quicker access
Option to replace the default Windows Disk Defragmenter program
A portable version of Smart Defrag can be found at PortableApps
When a defrag completes, smart defrag best option, the program shows a detailed report of every file that was defragmented
Option to shut down, sleep, hibernate, or reboot the computer once a defrag has completed
Can remove several types of junk files before starting a defrag
Able to defrag individual folders and files instead of the entire hard drive
Advanced Defrag Options
This program has unique features you may not find in similar software.
Boot Time Defrag
Under normal conditions, particular files in Windows are locked, smart defrag best option. You're unable to move these files because they're constantly being used. This causes a problem when you want to defrag those files, so Smart Defrag has an option to defrag the locked files.
The way this works is you set up the program to defragment the locked smart defrag best option when Windows isn't in use. The only time Windows isn't using the locked files is during a reboot, smart defrag best option, so Smart Defrag must run this type of defrag while your computer is rebooting.
It's from the Boot Time Defrag tab that you can enable this option. This is where you'll find the options for a boot time defrag.
Choose to enable boot time to defrag and then select any of the hard drives you have connected. The boot time defrag can be configured for the next reboot only, the first boot of every day, on every reboot, or the first boot on a specific day like every 7 days, 10 days, etc.
You also have control over what gets defragged. Pick from page files and hibernation files, MFT, and system files. There's a Specify files section in the settings that lets you defrag specific files of your choosing.
Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup is an area in the program's settings that you might miss if you're not looking for it. It lets you define portions of Windows that get scanned for junk files. Redshift 3.0.12 crack can have Smart Defrag clear out these files so it's not defragmenting them, smart defrag best option, which otherwise might make a defrag last longer than is necessary.
When you run a manual defrag, you can have these junk areas cleaned up. Some of the areas included in smart defrag best option scan are the Recycle Bin, Internet Explorer temporary files, clipboard, old prefetch data, memory dumps, and chkdsk file fragments. There's even an extra setting to enable secure file deletion using DoD M, one of the most popular data sanitization methods, smart defrag best option.
To run a disk cleanup with Smart Defrag, use the dropdown smart defrag best option below the specific drive that should be cleaned, and select Disk Cleanup. Now when you run a defrag the hard drives you selected to be cleaned will run through that process first before starting the defrag.
Final Thoughts on Smart Defrag
Smart Defrag is one smart defrag best option the best free defrag programs. You can install it and completely forget about it. It can be set up to constantly run in the background and automatically adjust its actions depending on what you're doing.
We really like that you can do a system cleanup during a disk analysis to clean up junk files that you no longer need. Smart Defrag cleans more areas than all the other defrag programs we've used. However, smart defrag best option, it doesn't do it automatically. If the program could auto-clean the files before every defrag, there'd smart defrag best option little to complain about.
At the top of the program, under the disk drives, there's an option to add a file or folder to the list. You can include common files and folders that you wish to defrag on a regular basis. Also, when you right-click a file or folder in Windows and choose to defrag it with this program. We really like this feature. It's a simple way to track things you may know are always fragmented and have direct access to defragment them.
We're glad there's an exclude list in the settings. If you have data you don't mind contains fragments, then adding them there will exclude them from both an analysis and a defrag. Also, in the settings, you can choose to skip files that are over a particular file size, which is nice if you have many large files that would normally extend a defrag time if included.
Not all defrag programs support boot time scans, so the fact that this one does just adds to its awesomeness.
Something we're not a fan of in any program is when the installer tries to get you to install additional software. Smart Defrag might try to install another program during setup, but you can easily smart defrag best option it.
Download Smart Defrag
Thanks for letting us know!
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IObit Smart Defrag: A Superb Hard Drive Defragmentation & Optimization Tool [Windows]
Do you defrag your hard drive? If not, you should and you must understand the importance before you read on. There are some excellent articles on MakeUseOf which discuss defragmenting, but perhaps the best and most recent article is 3 Excellent Defrag Utilities & Why You Still Need to Defragment In by Tina. IObit Smart Defrag wasn’t included in the "3 excellent defrag utilities" in her article, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t excellent.
Whether you are in need smart defrag best option some defragmenting software or are looking for an alternative, Smart Defrag, is an fantastic option – so fantastic that we’ve included it on the Best Of Windows Software page.
Installing IObit Smart Defrag
As with any good software, Smart Defrag installs smart defrag best option quickly and easily. However, there are a couple windows you should make note of during the installation. Towards the beginning of the installation you are prompted to install a toolbar – don’t… unless you have a unexplainable love for them. I simply see no need for them, ever.
The second “do not install this” window is IObit’s very own Advanced SystemCare Ultimate. This isn’t pointless like the toolbar and is great software, as we’ve actually reviewed it here at MakeUseOf.
Note: These windows and the software in them are subject to change at any time.
The key is to always phpmaker tutorial Activators Patch on the lookout for additional software that may be offered (but not required) to add to your computer smart defrag best option the installation. It’s important to understand that additional software offered during the installation and setup of a program, doesn’t make the said program malicious. It just makes it free. That said, you should always be careful what you download and install.
For more information, there is a MakeUseOf article on how to avoid installing additional software smart defrag best option installing the program you really want.
After you finish the installation you should be prompted with a window to configure the language (currently supports 33 to date) and theme - Default (black) or white.
Exploring The Interface & Configurations
Once you’ve configured your theme and language, the main window will appear.
There are several important smart defrag best option to make note of, smart defrag best option. In the top right corner, left of the Minimize, Restore and Close buttons there are the Skin, Settings and Support links. Skin simply lets you change the theme between dark and light.
Settings contains several other options, which we’ll go into more detail later in the article. Support allows you to view the user manual, access technical support and view information about the current version of Smart Defrag which you have installed.
Next is the area which each of the drives are listed. If you have an external hard drive plugged in or multiple hard drives, these will be listed here as well. In addition, you can add a file or folder to be defragmented specifically.
The next section contains several tabs: State, Automatic Defrag, Boot Time Defrag and Report.
State is simply a map of the current condition (or state) or your hard drive. Each color represents something different. To understand them, you can hover over the individual colors next to “Map.”
This can also be customized by clicking on them. You can always revert back to the default colors by clicking “Reset” at the end of the colored boxes.
In this area, to the far right, there’s also the option to shut down your PC after the defragmentation is completed.
You also can control the defragmentation process from this tab with the buttons: Defrag, Analyze, Pause and Stop. The dropdown menu on Defrag includes options to do a fast optimize or full optimize in addition to defragmenting. According to IObit:
[The] optimize method will intelligently organize drive data for smart defrag best option performance and long-lasting data contiguity.
Note that choosing to optimize will increase the defragmenting time significantly.
Automatic Defrag works by defragmenting the file system while your PC is idle. From this tab you can toggle it being on and off for each of your drives. You can also see live charts of CPU and disk usage, as well as statistics for files automatically defragmented.
Next to the on/off toggle button, there is a link to configure Automatic Defrag. This can also be accessed through the Settings in the upper right corner.
Boot Time Defrag allows you to defrag files which cannot be safely moved while Windows is running and occurs during the startup.
You can view statistics and history of past defragmentation of files. Like Automatic Defrag, there is a switch to toggle Boot Time Defrag on and off. And right next to that, there’s a link to configure it further.
Report is just as the title implies, it contains reports of the most recent defragmentation.
Included in Report is a before and after fragmentation rate; a summary - all and defragmented files and directories, and elapsed time; and a detailed list of all the files and directories which were defragmented. You can also save the report as a text file to refer back to later.
You should note that because Smart Defrag is free, it also includes an ad banner at the bottom. Thankfully, it isn't invasive or annoying. In fact, it even uses the same theme as the rest of the program. Just click the "Hide latest news" link to tuck away the ad banner.
Additional Settings & Options
Although some of the settings have already been touched upon, there are still several more that haven’t. First, are the General Settings.
In this window you have options such as minimizing to the system try, automatically loading when Windows starts up and enabling tooltips in the system tray.
Options specific to defragmenting include enabling Smart SilentTechnology, stopping the defragmentation process when running on batteries (useful for laptops) and not displaying removable drives.
You can also decide if you want to skip files larger than 1 GB and decide what that maximum is (ranging from MB to 10 GB) and if defragment should occur when fragments exceed 1%, 3%, 5% or to always run.
Scheduled Defrag is another very useful option which is highly recommended. As the name implies, it allows Smart Defrag to run without you prompting it to.
From this window you can toggle Scheduled Defrag on and off, change which method it uses and which drives are defragmented when it is run. The Configuresmart defrag best option allows you to adjust when the scheduled defrag will occur and whether it should start (or not) when the computer is running on battery and if it should stop if the laptop starts running on battery during the defrag process.
Exclude List allows you to prevent certain smart defrag best option and folders (including their subfolders) from being defragmented.
Lastly, User Interface has controls for adjusting transparency, making disk map color accessible for those who are color-challenged, and changing the language.
Conclusion
IObit certainly isn’t the only option, be we at MakeUseOf feel it is definitely one of the best. And that is why we included it on your Best Of Windows Software page.
Do you use Smart Defrag already? What is your favorite feature? In your opinion, how does it compare to the other defragmenters which we’ve listed on the Best Of Windows Software page?
What Is Smart Defrag and Its Best Free Alternative
Scenario
“As my Windows 10 PC ran more and more slowly, I decided to defragment the hard drives since I heard in this way, the system’s performance can be improved. I downloaded the most popular defragmenter Smart Defrag in the hope that it could help me out. However, smart defrag best option, afterwards, I found that most of its features were restricted to a paid version and it was really expensive. So, I want to know whether there is any free alternative?”
Overview of Smart Defrag – is Smart Defrag good?
When putting a file in a partition, sometimes, its data could exist in different clusters that are not adjacent to each other and this is called fragmentation. Too much fragmentation downgrades the performance of your computer while defragmentation is a way to put those data together so as to reduce data access time, expand hard disk service time to a large extent, and make it much easier to perform disk and partition management.
iObit Smart Defrag is one of the best third-party defragmenter in the market for defragmentation of hard drives. It’s compatible with Windows 10, smart defrag best option, 8, 7, XP, and Vista. It can enhance the performance of PCs for many purposes like streaming, gaming, browsing, and many other activities. Smart Disk Smart defrag best option contains many practical features including Disk Defrag and Boot Time Defrag. The former one improves the overall performance of your hard drives while the latter one permits you to defrag files while the system boot process for shorter system boot time. Meanwhile, it also allows you to defrag game files to enhance your gaming experience.
2 Alternatives to Smart Defrag
In the contents above, you’ve learnt what is Smart Defrag and Smart Defrag cons. As you can see, smart defrag best option, it’s definitely a good software utility for defragmentation since many practical features are provided to enhance your user experience. However, as I went further, I found many people complained that most of its features were restricted to the professional version which asked for payment and in the meantime, it installed unrelated programs during or after setup. So, here, I’ll recommend another 2 free alternatives to Smart Defrag.
Note: In situations below, a disk needs to be defragmented
1. A large number of files have been added.
2. Only around 15% of available disk space left.
3. A new program or a new version of Windows is installed.
4. Fragmentation exceeds 15%.
Free Windows Defragmenter
Windows 7, 8, and 10 have their own defragmenter with which you can analyze a disk and defragment it based on the result. Follow the tutorial below to learn how to get it done.
1. In the search box on the lower left of the desktop, input “defragment&rdquo.
2. Select “Defragment and Optimize Drives&rdquo.
3. Select a hard disk drive and click on “Analyze&rdquo.
4. When analysis is completed, check whether the result is beyond “15%&rdquo.
5, smart defrag best option. If so, proceed to click on “Optimize” to start defragmentation.
Free third-party disk management utility
The Windows inbuilt defragmenter is a good free choice when Smart Defrag charges. However, there’re also some users complaining that sometimes, it doesn’t work without any reason. So, to avoid this awkwardness, another third-party free Defragmenter AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard is recommended. Its feature of “Disk Defrag” allows defragmenting all disks from the system C drive to data drives like D, E, and F in clicks. Meanwhile, unlike Smart Defrag, there’s no annoying bundleware either. Besides disk defragmentation, smart defrag best option, other features like wiping hard drive and SSD secure erase are also supported.
What’s the best alternative to Smart Defrag? Free download the ultimate disk manager to have a try!
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard. Select “Disk Defrag” in the menu on the left or directly right-click on the partition you want to defrag and select smart defrag best option Defrag&rdquo.
Step 2. Tick the partition and hit “Analyze&rdquo.
Step 3. After completed, the disk will be scored based on fragmented rate.
Step 4. Hit the “Defrag” button to start defragmentation.
Wait several seconds to minutes before is completed. After it’s done, your disk will be scored again.
Optional: a way to improve SSD’s performance
Should an SSD be defragmented? You’ll find the answer is negative after opening the link. So, here, I won’t make any further explanation. But what should be done if you want to improve an SSD’s performance? There seems to be no more choices left? Luckily, AOMEI Partition Assistant still gives a workaround. By upgrading this freeware to the Pro edition, you can enjoy the benefits of SSD 4K alignment to smart defrag best option the most out of your SSD.
Note: Other than SSD 4K alignment, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional also supports schedule defrag, making your hard drives defragged daily, weekly, or monthly.
Conclusion
What is Smart Defrag and what can it do for us? After going through the entire post, hopefully, you’ve learnt its main features, pros, and cons. Meanwhile, 2 better alternatives to Smart Disk Defrag is also introduced to help get it done with more convenience. As for me, AOMEI Partition Assistant is a good choice for it is free and user-friendly. When using it, I can easily find what I’m looking for and then, do what I want. To use this software smart defrag best option Server PCs, please try the Server edition.
In this post, I&#;ve featured Smart Defrag Review .
Everyone is aware of the defragmentation process. It is a process where you make small parts of your storage disk to make it work faster.
IObit offers a lot of products on its official website and Smart Defrag is one of them.
We have seen distorted Disk defragmentation screens but this is the first disk defragmentation software that has a smart sleek and easy-to-use interface.
What Is IObit&#;s Smart Defrag?
It was designed to optimize file placement for quick startups.
It has a three-button interface in the disk defragmenter software from which you can specifically defragment your storage it lets you choose what and how to defragment it.
All of these buttons show your primary hard disk, windows apps, and an option where you can select specific files and folders.
Along with that on the top of the interface, you will see game and bootup optimization.
The developer of this software made it this way so you don&#;t have to waste time searching for information.
After installation of IObit&#;s Smart Defrag, it will automatically scan your computer without any manual initiation.
All you need to do is set it up and it will run smoothly and automatically.
It will monitor the performance of your PC. It has an option for manual scan also and it has a Trim button from which you can analyze your computer for errors.
With its exclusion feature, you can delete specific files and folders with an instant click. You will find this feature in the program&#;s settings.
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Features of Smart Defrag
Faster PC & Quicker Access Speed
Everyone faces problems because of slow PCs. That&#;s why we need Disk fragmentation to enhance the speed of the computer.
It has a faster multithreading defrag engine from which you can defrag your hard drive and replace your files and folders in those defragmentation parts.
This increases the speed of your system.
It also offers a better solution for faster access to data and amazing disk performance.
With that speed you can easily enjoy playing games with a faster launching speed, you can also copy files in your system within a few minutes depending on the size of the file.
We all love a fast PC and an awesome access speed of programs in it so to get that we can easily use IObit&#;s Smart Defrag software and it is free.
Quicker System Boot-Time
You usually face a problem in starting up an old computer because it takes time to start up and that can be really annoying.
Working on computers decreases as time goes on. Smart Defrag helps your computer is starting up quickly.
This problem can easily be fixed by this software.
It configures Boot Time of your computer and it moves those files on the hard disk which can not be moved easily and it helps in starting up the PC faster.
It simply decreases the boot time of your PC and it is one of the reasons why you should use this software.
Enhanced Game Performance
As a gamer, no one wants to wait for their game to load up. Loading time can really annoy you sometimes.
It also depends on the size of the game.
So to resolve that problem you can use IObit&#;s Smart Defrag because along with the features of defragmentation, it also has a game optimizer option from where you can optimize your gaming experience.
It boosts up the loading time and reduces it to nearly half and more.
Everyone loves to play games but nobody can wait for the loading time and usually, it happens because of our slow computer. To boost up the speed you need to have this software.
Boot Time Defrag
You know that some files in Windows are locked in normal conditions and moving those files can be a pain in the ass because these files are being constantly used.
When you try to defrag those files with a normal process then it causes a problem.
For that Smart, smart defrag best option, Defrag gives you an option to defrag those locked files. The working of this feature can only happen when the Windows is not in use and it only happens when you reboot your computer, so you must run Smart Defrag to defrag these locked files.
To enable this option you can go to the tab &#;Boot Time Defrag&#.
In this tab, you can choose to enable boot time to defrag those locked files and you can choose any of the hard disks you have connected to the computer at that time.
After that, you can just add those files in those defrag parts.
Disk Cleanup
In the program settings of Smart Defrag, you can find this option.
In this option, you can select portions of Windows to be scanned for junk files and after that, you can let Smart Defrag clear out those files.
This is not the process of defragmenting, it just deletes those junk files.
On manual defrag, you can just clear these junk areas.
In the scan of these junk files, it scans Recycle Bin, Internet Explorer temporary files, clipboard, old prefetch data, memory dumps, and check file fragments.
You can also use DoD M to enable secure file deletion and this method is one of the data sanitization methods.
To clean up a disk you can use the dropdown menu of that specific disk which you want to clean and select the option of disk cleanup.
Who Should we Consider IObit&#;s Smart Defrag?
Every PC user face problems like the slow working of the PC, slow loading of programs, and more loading time for games every once in a while, and that can be really annoying.
You want your PC to work faster and start-up quickly.
But after some time you will face these kinds smart defrag best option problems so for that you need to defrag your hard disk because it is the center of all of your problems.
To get more space in your roguekiller anti-malware disk, you need to defrag it, smart defrag best option, and defragmenting a hard disk can be a little difficult if you are doing it manually because you also want to move some of your files into those parts but there is no option available for that.
For that, you can IObit&#;s Smart Defrag and it has a lot of options available for problems like that.
You will find much free defragmenting software on the internet but Smart Defrag is much more than just defragmenting a hard disk. It also improves the performance of your PC.
It has options like a game optimizer from which you can enjoy your games with less loading time.
Customer Support of Smart Defrag
IObit has a 24/7 customer support system available. You can get answers to all of your queries from the support team within a few hours.
This support system is also available for free version also which is a perfect thing. Sometimes we face problems using new software on our PC,
For that, we need some technical support from the software&#;s support team and IObit&#;s customer support system has some good reviews available on the internet.
Pricing of Smart Defrag
There is only one paid plan available and the basic features of Smart Defrag are free. In the paid versions you will get additional features with those basic features.
Basic (Free)
Defrag Hard Drive Data To Optimize Performance Of PC
Manual Scan
Basic PC Protection With Spyware Removal
Detection Of Malware In Real-Time
Pro ($)
All The Basic Features, Plus
Premium PC Cleaning
Auto RAM Clean Up to Eliminate Unused Programs and Processes
Scheduled PC Scan
Monitor System Working in Real-Time
Boost Up to % Faster PC Startup
Boost Up to % Faster Internet Speed With Internet Booster
Full PC Protection And Removal Of Deepest Malware
Capture Intruders With FaceID
Premium Surfing Protection
Protection of Personal Data from Untrusted Programs
Auto Update To the Latest Version
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Pros and Cons of Smart Defrag
✔ Pros
Scheduled scans and defragging of boot time
Don&#;t need to shut it down manually after a defrag
It has an option to defrag only Windows Metro Apps
It also has an option to auto analyze for any defrag alerts
You can also defrag locked files with Boot-Time defragmentation
You can also defrag the free space also
❌ Cons
Doesn&#;t have an option to check a drive for errors
It also doesn&#;t support idle defrags
After installation, it may try to install a toolbar or an unrelated program
Some options shown in the free version is actually only available on the pro version.
Quick Links
FAQs Smart Defrag Review
👉What is Smart Defrag?
It is a program of free defragmentation for all versions of the Windows operating system starting with Windows XP.
🤷♂️Can defragmentation cause problems?
It does not cause any data loss until and unless there is a pre-existing problem.
✌️When should you defrag?
Whenever your disk is more than 10% fragmented you may run the program to defragment it.
Conclusion Smart Defrag Review
It is one of the best free defrag software available on the internet.
All you have to do is download it and install it then just forget about it because it will automatically do most of the work.
You can just set it to run constantly in the background and it will automatically perform actions depending on what you are doing.
The feature of system cleanup is really awesome. You can just easily analyze the disk clean up the junk.
It usually cleans up more areas than most of the defrag programs you will use. After using it you will see the difference yourself and the best thing about it that it doesn&#;t do clean up automatically. You can choose the files which you want to be cleaned up.
If you like this post on IObit&#;s Smart Defrag then share your opinions and experiences with us in the comment section and don&#;t forget to share it with others.
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Categories Reviews, Technology
Pros
Faster Setup
Quick Disk fragmentation
Affordable Pricing
Discounts on Pricing plans
Available in more than 40 languages
Compatible with Windows 10//8/7/Vista/XP
Improved Defrag Engine
SSD trimming
Instinctive Graphic Interface
Up to % Internet speedup with Internet Booster
Cons
It doesn’t have a resource-throttling setting.
In this post, smart defrag best option, I've featured IObit's Smart Defrag Review, smart defrag best option. Everyone is aware of the defragmentation process. Read More about Smart Defrag Here!!
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