How to Fix a Slow Laptop: 6 Ways to Make It Fast

Laptops naturally slow down over time. Updates to Windows, browsers, and apps usually demand more resources than the older versions did, so the same hardware feels slower against newer software.

I can understand, it’s quite frustrating. It takes a serious toll on productivity and time management.

But if you can find the reason, you can take steps to speed up your slow laptop.

Slow laptop causes

There are many causes that slow down laptops. Some of them are related to how you use your laptop, while others have software or hardware problems.

Too many programs/applications running:

The more you ask your computer to do, the slower it will go. So, start by checking if there are any programs or applications that you are not using.

This might sound obvious and easily dismissed but maybe there are programs running on your laptop without your knowledge. Several programs open at start up and you may be unaware they are running in the background.

Too many apps launching at startup:

This is one of the most common reasons a laptop feels slow after booting. Many apps add themselves to startup without asking, including chat apps, game launchers, cloud sync tools, and updaters.

They all load as soon as you sign in, using up CPU and RAM before you’ve opened anything. So, you should fix them!

To check and disable them on Windows 11:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Click Startup apps in the left sidebar. On Windows 10, open the Startup tab instead.
Look at the Startup impact column and sort by it.
Right-click any app you don’t need at launch and select Disable.

Disabling an app here doesn’t uninstall it. It just stops it from launching automatically, and you can still open it whenever you want. Leave anything you don’t recognize, along with security software and drivers, alone. For more details, you can check out the article, configure startup applications.

You have too many browser tabs open:

This is fairly simple: your browser will want more resources if you have more tabs open.

To solve this problem, close any unused or unnecessary tabs!

Too many browser extensions and/or add-ons:

Installing too many browser extensions or add-ons to your browser can be the same problem as above in terms of eating away a lot of your system resources, thus making it perform slowly.

Consequently, in case you suspect that you have too many browser extensions and/or add-ons installed, then delete some of them.

Malware or virus on your laptop:

Malware can run silently in the background and use up your CPU, memory, and disk, which slows your laptop down. Common culprits are adware, browser hijackers, and crypto miners.

For most people, Windows Security (Microsoft Defender) is built in and enough. Open it, go to Virus & threat protection, and run a Full scan.

Your laptop has more than one antivirus program installed:

Running more than one real-time antivirus program at the same time can hurt performance. They scan the same files at the same moment and can conflict with each other, which causes lag and sometimes crashes.

Some laptops come with a trial version of a third-party antivirus preinstalled, which is easy to forget about.

Check Settings → Apps → Installed apps.

If you see more than one security program, keep one and uninstall the others. Windows Security turns itself off automatically when it detects another antivirus, so if you remove the third-party one, make sure Windows Security is switched back on.

Your laptop has been placed in power-saving mode:

Your laptop might be in a power-saving mode. Most laptops have a feature that limits performance to extend battery life.

To check your power mode on Windows 11:

Open Settings (Windows key + I).
Go to System → Power & battery.
Next to Power mode, choose Balanced or Best performance.

On Windows 10, go to Settings → System → Power & sleep → Additional power settings and choose Balanced or High performance.

Keep in mind that some laptops also have a manufacturer app (such as Lenovo Vantage, MyASUS, or Dell Power Manager) with its own performance profile, so check that too if the Windows setting doesn’t change anything.

Your gaming laptop isn’t plugged in:

If you own a gaming laptop and games run much worse than usual, check whether it’s unplugged.

Batteries can’t supply as much power as a gaming CPU and GPU draw under load, so on battery the system limits both and it will slow down the gaming laptop. The dedicated GPU still works, but at a fraction of its plugged-in speed.

Some laptop models also switch to the integrated graphics on battery to save power.

To get full performance:

Plug in the original charger, since a lower-wattage one can cause throttling too.
Go to Settings → System → Power & battery and set Power mode to Best performance.
Go to Settings → System → Display → Graphics, select your game, click Options, and choose High performance.

There maybe be a hardware issue

A hardware problem could be responsible for your laptop’s slow performance if none of the above-mentioned issues are the cause.

Some of these problems include:

The laptop is too hot
Storage space has been depleted
Memory deficit
Some components are not functioning properly

Your laptop overheats:

If your laptop overheats, a laptop will usually throttle its components, meaning they will run slower on purpose in order to try and keep cool.

It’s pretty easy to identify when your laptop is overheating; you will feel it burning hot. However, a temperature monitor program may also be employed to check the CPU and GPU temperatures of your device in order to be sure.

It is possible for you to cool down your laptop in several ways. Some ways that can cool down your laptop effectively include blowing out the vents using compressed air, changing the surface where you put your laptop or using a cooler under it that allows more air to flow through it.

Dirty environment:

I have experienced this issue with a laptop that I use for my home office. After using the laptop, I wasn’t putting it in the bag and it was exposed to dust.

A few months later, I realized that the laptop was slowing down and overheating. Upon checking, I found that there was a lot of dust inside the laptop.

So, one reason for these issues could be that you are not cleaning it regularly.

If you fix these issues, I am pretty sure your laptop will last longer.

You have no more storage space:

If you have exhausted your laptop’s storage space, it will become slower. In addition, this may be seen as a software issue because it can be fixed by deleting unnecessary programs and files.

To check if you no longer have any storage space:

Open up File Explorer (simply enter into the search bar)
To access File Explorer, locate and click on the This PC option in the left-hand sidebar.
Go through your disk space

However, if the bar showing your available space is either over capacity or close to such, then you need to free up storage space or add more storage capacity.

Certainly, just delete any of those redundant files or applications that would clear some room.

Furthermore, if you want to hold onto them, you can also purchase an external hard disk drive or USB flash drive where all important files can be transferred.

Lack of memory space (RAM):

RAM (memory) is where your laptop keeps the apps and files it’s actively using. When it fills up, Windows starts using your storage drive as overflow memory, which is much slower, and everything begins to lag.

Before blaming RAM, check how much you’re actually using. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, click the Performance tab, then select Memory. If usage regularly sits above 80-90% during normal work, you’re likely short on RAM. First, close unused apps and browser tabs, since background programs also eat memory.

If you’re still maxing out, adding RAM can make a big difference. For most people today, 16 GB is a comfortable target for everyday multitasking, while 8 GB can feel tight with a modern browser and a few apps open.

Not every laptop allows RAM upgrades, so check your model first. See our guide on choosing the right RAM for your PC and how to upgrade a laptop.

Malfunctioning components:

Laptops sometimes have malfunctioning parts. This could be due to manufacturing defects, accidental dropping of the laptop or perhaps some liquid was spilled on it. Either the laptop will stop working altogether or it will become slow.

If your computer is still slow even after attempting all the solutions mentioned above, the best thing you can do is take it to a computer repair shop. They will diagnose the problem and figure out how to remedy it.

Ways to speed up your slow laptop:

Fixing a slow laptop is not a difficult task; all you need to do is maintain it and follow these easy steps to keep your laptop working at its best. It will help your laptop last longer.

1. Cleaning and maintenance:

This is the first and most crucial step to take.

Dust can possibly harm or even destroy some components of your laptop, making it more than just an eyesore. Your keyboard may become problematic if dirt, food, liquid, or other particles become stuck there.

Therefore, regular cleaning will help you maintain your computer’s functionality and prevent costly repairs.

It is also advisable to use the laptop in a cool environment or on a smooth surface, which can improve the airflow and ventilation of your laptop.

2. Remove unnecessary junk:

Your laptop gets slower when it’s cluttered with junk files, including cache files, temporary files, and leftover installer data. Clearing them out regularly frees up space and can help performance, especially if your drive is nearly full.

To clean up temporary files on Windows:

Open Settings → System → Storage.
Click Temporary files and wait while Windows scans.
Tick the categories you want to remove, such as Temporary files, Recycle Bin, and Windows Update cleanup. Review the list before deleting, and leave Downloads unticked unless you’ve checked it.
Click Remove files.

You can also turn on Storage Sense on the same page to clear temporary files automatically. If you prefer the classic tool, type Disk Cleanup in the search bar, select your C drive, and choose what to delete.

Back up anything important before deleting files, and move large files you want to keep to an external drive.

3. Remove malware and viruses:

You wouldn’t believe how much malware can slow down a PC. Your computer may become infected with malware, which could then run silently in the background and drain CPU resources.

Type “Windows Security” in the search bar, open Virus & threat protection, and run a Full scan. Remove anything it flags, then restart your laptop.

4. Remove programs you do not use:

If you haven’t used the program or software in the past few months, consider it useless. Some software uses several resources and consumes a lot of storage. The program might cause trouble even if you are not actively using it. It’s a good idea to get rid of it.

Windows users can find ‘Add or remove programs’ by simply typing it in the search bar. From there, you can browse the installed program list, select a program, and then select ‘Uninstall’ to free up space.

5. Upgrade your hardware:

It could be time to get some new hardware if you’ve tried all of the tips above. You might want to think about investing in the following things:

While HDDs provide greater room for a lower cost, adding an SSD can significantly speed up the loading of programs and the writing of files on your computer.

An older laptop might not have enough memory to run contemporary software effectively. Additionally, if you run several apps at once, you might not have enough Random Access Memory (RAM) to get by. Adding extra RAM can provide the boost you require.

6. Update the operating system:

It is very important to update the operating system to safeguard your computer from harmful threats.

As soon as an update becomes available, Windows immediately sends you a notification. Simply be cautious not to put it off more.

By updating Windows, you can increase security, eliminate common bugs and issues, add new features, and enhance performance and software and hardware compatibility.