Performance ยท 6 min read
How to speed up a slow laptop
A slow laptop is usually fixable without new parts. Work through these steps in order, from the quickest to the most involved.
Practical steps to make a slow laptop fast again, from quick fixes like trimming startup apps to an SSD or RAM upgrade.
Before you start
- Task Manager: Use it to see CPU, memory, disk, and startup pressure.
- Free storage: Keep at least 15% of the drive empty for Windows to breathe.
- Update window: Install pending updates before deeper troubleshooting.
- Upgrade budget: An SSD or RAM upgrade may be the cleanest fix.
Follow this order
Restart and update
A reboot clears stuck processes. Then install pending Windows updates, which often include performance fixes.
Trim startup apps
Open Task Manager, then Startup, and disable apps you do not need at boot, such as chat and updater tools.
Free up disk space
Keep at least 15% of the drive empty. Use Settings, then Storage, to clear temp files and old downloads.
Check for malware
Run a full scan with Windows Security. Background malware is a common and overlooked cause of slowdowns.
Add an SSD or RAM
If the laptop still uses a hard drive, an SSD is the single biggest speed upgrade. More RAM helps with many tabs and apps.
Reset if needed
If nothing helps, back up your files and do a clean Windows install to clear years of buildup.
Good to know
- Moving from a hard drive to an SSD often makes an old laptop feel new. Ask us if your model supports it.
- 8GB of RAM is the comfortable minimum for everyday multitasking today.
Common questions
Why is my laptop slow even though it is not old?
Common causes are a full disk, too many startup apps, malware, or a mechanical hard drive.
Will more RAM fix a slow laptop?
It helps if you run many apps at once, but a slow hard drive is usually the bigger bottleneck.