Fix a Slow Computer (Windows)

If your PC feels sluggish, apps take forever to open, or the cursor lags, work through these steps from quickest to deeper fixes. You can stop once performance is back to normal.

🧪 Quick Checks (1–2 minutes)

• Reboot the PC to clear stuck processes and updates.
• Check power mode: Settings → System → Power & battery → Power mode → set to Balanced or Best performance.
• Disconnect peripherals you don’t need (USB drives, webcams) and close extra browser tabs.

📋 Step 1: See What’s Slowing It Down

• Right-click the taskbar → Task Manager → Processes tab.
• Sort by CPU, Memory, and Disk to find heavy apps.
• Right-click anything unneeded → End task (avoid system processes).

🚫 Step 2: Disable Startup Apps

• Task Manager → Startup apps: set unnecessary items to Disabled (e.g., game launchers, updaters, chat tools you don’t need at boot).
• Reboot and re-test performance.

🧹 Step 3: Free Disk Space

• Settings → System → Storage: enable Storage Sense and clean temporary files.
• Run Disk Cleanup (search start) → select Temporary files, Download Program Files, Thumbnails → OK.
• Keep at least 15–20% free space on the system drive (C:). Large downloads or videos? Move them off C:.

🔄 Step 4: Update Windows & Drivers

• Settings → Windows Update: Install all pending updates and reboot.
• Update graphics drivers (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel) using their official apps.
• Open Device Manager → check for devices with warning icons and update those drivers.

🛡️ Step 5: Malware/PUA Scan

• Run Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Quick scan. If issues persist, do a Full scan.
• Uninstall toolbars, shady optimizers, or unknown apps: Settings → Apps → Installed apps.

🌐 Step 6: Browser Cleanup

• Remove heavy extensions and ad-block duplicates.
• Clear cached images/files (keep passwords if needed).
• Test performance in another browser to isolate issues.

💽 Step 7: Storage Health & Optimization

• Open Windows PowerShell (Admin) → check drive health:

  wmic diskdrive get status, model

  All drives should say OK. If not, back up data immediately.
• SSD: Windows trims automatically. Just ensure enough free space.
• HDD: Open Defragment and Optimize Drives → Optimize.

🔥 Step 8: Heat & Throttling

• If the laptop is hot or the fan screams, it may throttle.
• Ensure vents are clear; use a hard, flat surface or cooling pad.
• If comfortable, blow dust from vents (PC off) or have IT clean it.

⚙️ Step 9: Advanced Tweaks

• Background apps: Settings → Apps → Installed apps → app → Background app permissions → Power optimized or Never.
• Visual effects: Search Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows → choose Adjust for best performance (or custom).
• Indexing: In Indexing Options, limit to needed folders to reduce background indexing.

🧱 Step 10: Hardware Limits

• RAM: 4–8 GB is tight for modern Windows + browsers. If you’re often at 80–100% memory in Task Manager, consider upgrading to 16 GB+.
• Storage: If you’re on an HDD, moving to an SSD is the biggest real-world speed boost.

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