1. Restart the laptop properly

This sounds almost too simple, but it is worth doing before making more complicated changes.

A Windows laptop can accumulate running applications, background processes and other temporary activity during normal use. Restarting gives Windows an opportunity to start a fresh session.

Try this first

1. Save your work.
2. Close your applications.
3. Select Start.
4. Select Power.
5. Select Restart.

Once Windows has restarted, use the laptop normally for a few minutes and see whether the performance has improved.

If it becomes slow again shortly after restarting, continue with the checks below.

2. Reduce unnecessary startup applications

If your laptop takes a long time to become usable after switching it on, startup applications are one of the first areas worth checking.

Some applications configure themselves to launch automatically with Windows. Over time, you can end up with many programs competing for system resources during startup.

How to check startup applications

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Open Task Manager.
3. Select Startup apps.
4. Review the applications listed.
5. Disable applications you recognise and do not need to start automatically.

Disabling a startup application does not normally uninstall it. It simply prevents that application from automatically launching when Windows starts.

3. Free up storage space

A laptop with very little free storage can become difficult to manage and may experience problems when Windows and applications need temporary working space.

You don’t need to delete everything on the computer. Instead, identify what is consuming the available storage and remove things you no longer need.

Check your storage

1. Open Settings.
2. Select System.
3. Select Storage.
4. Review how the available space is being used.

Things you can review

• Temporary files.
• Large downloads you no longer need.
• Applications you no longer use.
• Old files that have already been backed up elsewhere.
• Large videos or other files consuming significant storage.

4. Remove programs you no longer need

An older Windows laptop can accumulate applications over several years. Some may no longer be used but can still consume storage or run background services.

Review your installed applications and remove software that you are certain you no longer need.

Before uninstalling an application

• Make sure you know what the application does.
• Check whether you still use it.
• Make sure important files are backed up.
• Do not remove Windows components simply because you don’t recognise their names.

If you’re unsure about a particular application, investigate it before uninstalling it.

5. Install Windows and application updates

If Windows has pending updates, allowing them to complete can resolve compatibility, reliability and software-related problems.

Updates can also include security improvements, so keeping Windows maintained is about more than performance alone.

Check Windows Update

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Windows Update.
3. Check for available updates.
4. Install appropriate updates.
5. Restart the laptop if requested.

6. Find applications using too many resources

If the laptop remains slow after restarting, Task Manager can help you identify what is happening while the computer is struggling.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Open the Processes section.
3. Look at CPU usage.
4. Look at Memory usage.
5. Look at Disk usage.

If a particular application is consistently consuming an unusually large amount of resources while you’re not doing anything demanding, investigate that application.

Remember that high resource usage isn’t automatically a fault. Windows may temporarily use additional resources for updates, indexing, security scans and other legitimate background activity.

Look for a pattern

Don’t just look at Task Manager once. Check it when the laptop is slow and compare it with how the computer behaves when it is running normally.

7. Check for malware and unwanted software

Malware or unwanted software can sometimes contribute to poor computer performance. It can also cause other symptoms such as unexpected pop-ups, browser redirects or applications appearing that you didn’t intentionally install.

A slow laptop by itself does not prove that you have a virus, but unusual behaviour alongside the slowdown deserves investigation.

Signs worth checking

• Unexpected pop-ups.
• Browser searches being redirected.
• Unknown applications.
• Unexpected browser extensions.
• Security software reporting a threat.
• Unusual changes in computer behaviour.

Start with Windows’ built-in security features and your existing reputable security software rather than downloading several unknown “PC cleaner” applications.

8. Reduce unnecessary visual effects

Windows includes visual effects designed to make the interface look smoother and more polished. On modern hardware, these are usually not a major concern. On an older or lower-powered laptop, however, reducing some visual effects can be worth testing.

This should not be your first troubleshooting step. If the laptop is extremely slow, investigate storage, startup applications, resource usage, malware and hardware first.

What to do

Windows provides performance settings that allow visual effects to be adjusted. You can experiment with reducing unnecessary effects and then test whether the laptop feels more responsive.

If you don’t notice a meaningful improvement, restore the settings and concentrate on the underlying cause instead.

9. Consider upgrading from an HDD to an SSD

If your laptop is older and uses a traditional mechanical hard disk drive (HDD), storage may be one of the biggest areas worth investigating.

Solid-state drives (SSDs) are generally much faster at accessing data than traditional mechanical hard drives. On a compatible older laptop, moving from an HDD to an SSD can make everyday operations feel considerably more responsive.

But don’t buy an SSD before checking compatibility

Different laptops support different storage formats and interfaces. You also need to consider how Windows and your existing data will be transferred.

Before upgrading, check the exact laptop model and determine what type of storage it supports.

10. Consider a RAM or hardware upgrade

If your laptop frequently runs out of available memory while you are working, additional RAM may be worth considering.

This is particularly relevant if you regularly use several applications simultaneously, keep many browser tabs open, or use software that requires more memory.

Check before buying anything

• Find the exact laptop model.
• Check how much RAM is currently installed.
• Check whether the RAM can actually be upgraded.
• Check the maximum supported memory.
• Confirm the correct memory specification.

Some laptops have upgradeable memory, while others have memory that is soldered to the motherboard or otherwise limited.

Hardware upgrades should therefore be based on the actual laptop rather than a generic recommendation.

Which fix should you try first?

If you’re not sure where to start, use the symptoms below as a quick guide.

When should you stop trying to speed it up yourself?

These checks are useful for straightforward software and performance problems, but not every slow laptop can be fixed through settings changes.

Consider professional help if:

• The laptop repeatedly crashes or restarts.
• The computer becomes extremely hot.
• You hear unusual noises from the storage drive.
• Important files are at risk.
• You suspect malware and cannot remove it safely.
• Windows is failing to start correctly.
• You are considering replacing hardware but don’t know what is compatible.
• The laptop remains unusably slow despite basic troubleshooting.

The goal isn’t simply to make the laptop “feel faster” for a few days. The better approach is to identify why it became slow in the first place.

Should you upgrade your laptop or replace it?

This depends on the laptop’s age, condition, specifications and what you actually use it for.

If the laptop otherwise meets your needs, a sensible upgrade or repair may extend its useful life.

On the other hand, if several components are ageing or the computer cannot comfortably handle the software you need, putting more money into it may not be worthwhile.

That’s why diagnosis should come before buying a new laptop.

Related computer troubleshooting

If you’re trying to understand why your laptop became slow in the first place, read our guide:

Why Is My Laptop So Slow? 10 Things You Can Check Before Paying for a Repair

You can also explore Gekel Edge computer repair and IT support services if you need help diagnosing or fixing the problem.

Frequently asked questions