A slow computer is frustrating, but it rarely means you need a new one. Work through these fixes in order — the first few take only minutes.
1. Restart properly
It sounds obvious, but many slowdowns come from a PC that has not fully restarted in weeks. Use Restart, not just Shut down, to clear memory and apply pending updates.
2. Trim startup apps
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, go to Startup apps, and disable anything you don’t need the moment Windows boots.
3. Uninstall programs you don’t use
Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps and remove trial software, old games and toolbars.
4. Free up disk space
Turn on Storage Sense under Settings → System → Storage to clear temporary files automatically. Try to keep at least 15–20% of your drive free.
5. Install updates
Check Settings → Windows Update. Updates often include performance and driver fixes.
6. Scan for malware
Open Windows Security and run a full scan. Hidden malware can quietly eat CPU and bandwidth.
7. Choose a better power mode
On laptops, plug in and set Settings → System → Power mode to Best performance when you need speed.
8. Consider a cheap hardware upgrade
If your PC still uses a spinning hard drive, switching to an SSD is the single biggest speed boost you can buy. Adding RAM helps if you keep many tabs and apps open.
💡 Tip: Open Task Manager’s Processes tab and sort by CPU or Memory to see exactly what is slowing you down.
