Why Laptops Slow Down? How To Fix A Slow Laptop?

It is quite frustrating when laptops take longer than usual to perform basic tasks. It takes a serious toll on productivity and time management.

This happens to almost every laptop user.

A slow laptop causes the user several problems and difficulties. For instance, it has an impact on your work, which results in irritation and delays in work.

But do not worry; I have got your back and completely understand the struggle because we have all been there.

Don’t just throw your slow laptop away; instead, try these tricks and tips that will help you speed up your slow laptop.

Why is your laptop slow?

Before moving forward with solutions, you need to be aware of why your laptop is slow and what the causes are behind it. 

A slow laptop could be caused by a variety of factors. Some of them are related to how you use your laptop, while others have software or hardware problems.

Therefore, I have listed the main reasons below:

1. Too many background processes:

Your laptop will start to lag when there are too many programs running at once. You should close unnecessary applications and use Task Manager to find and stop resource-intensive activities.

The operating system of Windows is massive; the apps, processes, and services run on it all the time, which can slow down the laptop’s performance and loading times.

When you install more software and applications, the background processes run automatically and can drain your battery life and processing power.

2. Insufficient storage:

When your laptop’s storage is nearly full, performance gets worse, and you face problems when browsing tabs. There may be interruptions in your work, which can be extremely annoying.

Knowing how much RAM your laptop has can help you make an informed decision about what programs can be run on it.

Lack of memory limits the resources available to run several programs. A laptop’s performance can be drastically slowed down by storing too many files on it. In reality, studies have shown that for your laptop to run efficiently, you should leave at least 10-20% of your hard disk storage unused.

If you have a laptop with small storage and RAM, you should check out these budget laptops. We also have many other options like gaming laptops under $500, laptops for homeschooling, Acer laptops under $500, and laptops for basic use, and most of them have great specs.

3. Outdated hardware:

If your hardware has not been updated in a while, you are probably going to run into this problem.

Technology upgrades are always important, whether you use your laptop personally or are a business owner. Therefore, keeping your hardware up-to-date can make your laptop run without any trouble.

4. Viruses and Malware:

Malware and viruses can affect your laptop through dubious websites, which we sometimes click on. They can also come from downloads that appear to be legitimate but have viruses inside, which can cause damage to your laptop’s performance. 

Imagine you unintentionally click on a pop-up ad from a website offering a free, expensive phone. The moment you click on it, the malware enters your laptop, and it gets sluggish. As a result, you will start to experience browsing issues, which may then spread to other programs and data. 

Cybercriminals may use malware to obtain your personal information or bank account information.

5. Overheating and dust:

Excessive heat is the greatest threat to your laptop. If your laptop’s fan starts making noises and exceeds the temperature, at that point you may experience a decline in performance. 

On top of that, excessive overheating can harm hardware, so it is absolutely important to give your laptop a break and keep it cool if you want it to function at its best.

Your laptop’s fan may also be affected by dust, dirt, and grime, making it harder to cool down the machine. 

Overheating can be noticed if your laptop shuts down unexpectedly and won’t turn back on for a while.

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.

6 Best Practices to Speed Up Your Slow Laptop by PCViewed

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 is going to get slow if there is too much junk stored on it, including cache files, browsing history, and useless and temporary files. Always keep an eye out for unnecessary files on your laptop and keep removing them.

Here is a quick way to clean up garbage files on your computer, and this is something you should do often to keep your computer running at a decent speed. 

To clean up the junk, all you have to do is go to the start menu, select all programs, and go to accessories. 

After that, go to System Tools. Once you are in system tools, you can choose which drive you want to clean up. 

Make sure to clean up your normal drive, which you use for most of your operating systems and programs.

To make space available on your Windows laptop, simply type ‘storage settings ’ in the search box. Select your C drive by going to System > Storage after that. Finally, pick a category from the list to delete files, apps, music, and more.

Some of the temporary files are important to remove as they can slow down your laptop. 

It’s a smart move to make a backup of your data before removing any files and transferring or storing them on another laptop or hard drive.

There is also a Windows disk cleanup program for clearing out unnecessary data from your computer. It scans and determines how much room you can make available on the chosen drive. 

From there, you can remove unwanted items from your laptop, including downloads, the recycle bin, temporary Windows installation files, and more.

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.

All you need to do is install reputable antivirus software to protect your computer from viruses and malware, or follow these simple steps to protect your computer from viruses and malware:

Open the settings menu or enter “Virus & Threat Protection” in the search bar, where you can start the “quick scan” to avoid any further threats.

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:

  • 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. 

If you miss any updates, there is always the option to check Select Settings or the settings icon from Start. then access Windows Update; from there, you can update the most recent system,

Remember that regular updates can make your laptop run faster and more effectively.

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