What to do if your Windows computer slows down

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Lifehacker has collected eight easy ways to speed up your PC.

1. Exclude unnecessary programs from the startup list

After installation, some programs are automatically added to the startup list. Such applications start working as soon as Windows starts, regardless of whether you use them or not. They remain always active, and therefore consume RAM and processor power.

When there are too many programs in the startup list, they consume a significant portion of system resources. As a result, the computer starts to run slower than usual. Especially if it cannot boast of a powerful hardware filling.

Right-click on the Windows 10 bar and select Task Manager. Then click "Details" → "Startup".

In the list that opens, find programs that you do not need to work constantly. Click on them with the right mouse button and select "Disable".

2. Clean your computer from debris

If you were not very careful when installing programs, you may find many "uninvited guests" in the memory of your computer. Browsers, add-ons for them, all sorts of MediaGet, or even a whole antivirus can be picked up.

All this is because many application installers contain hidden ad modules and clog the system with them during installation.

And some laptop manufacturers embed their little-needed software, the so-called bloatware, into the system right before they sell it. All this very often leads to slow PC performance.

Open "Start" → "Settings" → "Applications", go through the list of programs and remove all unnecessary. Free up disk space and other PC resources.

In addition, it does not hurt to get a program that automatically unchecks the boxes in the installers. This will help to reduce the clutter of the computer in the future.

3. Free up space on the system drive

For Windows and installed programs to work quickly, it is important that there is enough free space on the system drive. Check if the local disk where the OS is installed is full. This is usually drive C. It is desirable that at least 20% of the space is free, which is especially true for SSD-drives.

If the system drive is full, delete unused files from it or move them to another local drive. But do not erase the elements necessary for the system to work. If you are in doubt whether you need a particular file, it is better not to delete it.

Click Start and start typing Disk Cleanup, then open the program that appears. Select your system drive, click OK, then select the data you can delete and click Clean Up System Files.

You can also configure automatic cleaning of computer drives.

To do this, click "Start" → "Settings" → "System" → "Memory" → "Configure memory monitoring or start it." Specify what data can be deleted automatically: files in the recycle bin, downloads, and temporary application data. And choose how often to do it.

Finally, you can use a free utility. It will analyze the disk and sort its files and folders by size. So you can quickly see what exactly is taking up space.

4. Update your drivers

These mini-programs control the components that make up your computer. Over time, manufacturers of video cards and other hardware components improve the drivers for their devices to maximize their performance. Thus, newer versions can improve the speed of the computer.

There are special services that check the system for outdated drivers. The best one is. Download and run it and it will automatically install gadget updates. Or download the latest drivers from your PC manufacturer's website and install them manually.

5. Disable unnecessary Windows services

Windows services are special programs that perform various system functions in the background. Some of them are really important for the correct operation of the computer. In others, however, the need arises extremely rarely or never at all.

Sometimes disabling unused services can speed up the system. But keep in mind that only the owners of the weakest computers will be able to feel the result, so the time spent on this does not always pay off.

6. Reinstall, update or restore Windows

Microsoft has optimized the latest operating system well, so it runs faster than Windows Vista, 7 and 8. If you have one of these older versions, consider installing Windows 10. It might speed up your computer.

If you already have version 10 installed, update it to the current state in Windows Update. If your computer continues to lag even with the latest update, try restoring Windows. This will help if the system speed has dropped due to a software glitch.

7. Make sure your computer is not overheating

Overheating of the computer may be the cause of a severe drop in performance. Laptops especially often suffer from this problem. This usually happens while playing games or working with heavy programs. The computer can slow down, close games and applications on its own, or even turn off. The body of the device tends to get hot.

If you notice signs of overheating, try fixing it. Make sure the coolers are working and that nothing is interfering with good ventilation. If everything is in order with this, you can try to disassemble the device and clean it from dust.

Disassembling your computer can void your warranty, and improper handling can damage the components. If you are not sure of yourself, do not take risks.

If the computer slows down only during games, it is possible that the thermal paste has dried up (this substance is applied to the processor and video card so that they better give off heat). In this case, apply new thermal grease when cleaning the device. Look for videos where this is done with a computer that is as similar to yours as possible, so it will be easier for you to cope on your own. Or contact a specialist right away.

8. Install more powerful components

If none of the above helps, your computer may simply be too weak for the tasks assigned to it. Then only the replacement of the entire device or its individual components will help.

The biggest boost to the boot speed of the system and programs will be provided by installing Windows 10 on an SSD.

Also, the speed of the system depends on the processor and RAM. Gaming performance is largely driven by the power of the graphics card. The next time your computer starts to slow down, launch the "Task Manager" and see which part of the PC is most loaded: processor, RAM, disk or video card. This will be the "bottleneck" of the system.

Check out our big guide to learn how to upgrade your hardware.

The text was updated on April 8, 2021.