Why is my Windows laptop so slow? 8 fixes to try

Before you start

• You've saved anything you're working on, because some steps involve restarting.
• The charger is plugged in.
• You know whether you have Windows 10 or Windows 11. Open Settings > System > About to check.

0 of 3 done. Ticking just helps you keep track; nothing is saved or sent.

Steps

1. 1

   Restart properly

   Select Start > Power > Restart. Restarting clears out memory and finishes updates that are waiting. Laptops that are only ever closed or put to sleep can slow down over time.

2. 2

   Install updates

   Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Install everything that's waiting, then restart. Updates often include performance and security fixes.

3. 3

   Turn off apps that start with Windows

   Many programs set themselves to open every time your laptop starts. In Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Startup and turn off anything you don't need straight away. In Windows 10, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and use the Startup tab. Leave security software turned on.

4. 4

   Free up storage space

   A nearly full drive slows Windows down. Open Settings > System > Storage to see what's using space, and turn on Storage Sense to clear temporary files automatically. Our guide to low disk space goes into more detail.

5. 5

   Close programs you're not using

   Lots of open browser tabs and programs use up memory. Close the ones you don't need.

6. 6

   Check for viruses and malware

   Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection and run a Quick scan.

7. 7

   Check the power mode

   On a laptop, open Settings > System > Power & battery (Power & sleep in Windows 10). A battery-saving mode makes the laptop slower. Choose a balanced or best-performance option while it's plugged in.

8. 8

   Uninstall programs you don't use

   Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and remove anything you no longer need, especially trial software that came with the laptop.

If this happens, try this

• If it's slow only when you browse the web

  Too many tabs or browser extensions may be the cause. Close tabs and remove extensions you don't recognise.

• If the fan is loud and it gets hot

  Use it on a hard surface, keep the vents clear, and check Task Manager for a program using lots of CPU.

• If it's still slow after all of these

  An older hard drive (not an SSD) or too little memory may be holding it back. An upgrade can be cheaper than a new laptop.

• If it's slow and showing pop-ups you don't recognise

  Run a security scan, and don't call any phone number shown in a pop-up.

Things to be careful about

• Don't download "PC speed-up" or "registry cleaner" programs that promise big improvements. Many are unnecessary and some are harmful.

• Don't turn off your antivirus to speed things up.

• Don't delete files from system folders you don't recognise.