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How to speed up a slow Windows 11 PC: practical fixes in order

TUREFF• •0
A slow PC usually has one or two clear causes: too many programs starting with Windows, a full or failing drive, too little memory, or something running in the background that should not be. Work through these steps in order; the early ones are free and quick.

First, find what is slow

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and look at the Processes tab while the PC feels slow. Sort by CPU, Memory and Disk.
  • Disk at or near 100% for long periods points to a slow hard drive or a failing one.
  • Memory near full points to too little RAM or too many apps and browser tabs.
  • One process using lots of CPU points to a specific program, an update or something unwanted.

1. Cut startup apps

Go to Settings > Apps > Startup. Each app has a toggle and an impact rating. Turn off anything you do not need the moment you sign in: game launchers, chat apps you rarely use, updaters for programs you open now and then. Task Manager's Startup apps page shows the same list. Changes apply from the next sign-in.

2. Free up storage

A nearly full system drive slows Windows down.
  • Settings > System > Storage shows what is using space. Open Temporary files and remove what you do not need.
  • Turn on Storage Sense on the same page to clear temporary files and the Recycle Bin automatically.
  • Uninstall programs you no longer use under Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
  • Move large photos and videos to an external drive or cloud storage.

3. Install updates

Open Settings > Windows Update and install what is waiting, including optional driver updates if you have a specific problem. Update graphics drivers from the manufacturer's site if you game or edit video. Restart properly afterwards; a PC that has not restarted in weeks often feels sluggish.

4. Scan for malware with Microsoft Defender

Windows 11 includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus, which is enough for most people.
  1. Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
  2. Choose Scan options and run a Full scan.
  3. If you suspect something stubborn, run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan from the same page. The PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, so save your work first.
Also check your browser for extensions you did not install, and remove them.

5. Check the power mode

On laptops especially, Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode may be set to favour battery life. Switch to Balanced or Best performance while plugged in and see if it helps.

6. Check the drive's health

  • Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Disks & volumes, then Properties, shows health information for many NVMe SSDs.
  • The drive maker's free tool usually gives a fuller report.
  • Clicking, grinding, freezes and files that will not open are warning signs. Back up your files first, before anything else.

7. Upgrade from a hard drive to an SSD

If the PC still boots from a spinning hard drive (HDD), replacing it with a solid-state drive (SSD) is the single biggest speed improvement for most older machines: faster start-up, faster app launches and no more 100% disk. Many drives come with cloning software to copy your existing system across, or you can do a fresh install. Check what your PC supports (2.5-inch SATA or M.2, and which kind of M.2) before buying.

8. Add RAM

Windows 11's minimum is 4 GB, but that is tight for modern browsers and apps. If Task Manager shows memory constantly full, more RAM helps. Check whether your RAM is upgradeable; in many thin laptops it is soldered to the board.

9. When to reset or reinstall

If nothing above helps and the hardware is healthy, a fresh start can fix years of clutter. Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC offers a Keep my files option, which removes apps and settings but keeps personal files. Back up anyway, and note your licence keys and installed programs first.

A note on Windows 10

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. A paid or rewards-based Extended Security Updates programme provides security fixes only for a limited time; Microsoft has changed its end date before, so check Microsoft's own ESU page for the current deadline. If your PC can run Windows 11, upgrading keeps it supported; if it cannot, plan for that.

Things to avoid

  • "PC cleaner" and "registry cleaner" programs, which often cause more trouble than they fix.
  • Downloading drivers from unofficial sites.
  • Running two antivirus programs at once.
What fixed your slow PC, or what are you stuck on? Post your specs and what Task Manager shows in the comments.

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