How to speed up a slow laptop

You can speed up a slow laptop by removing heavy startup programs and clearing out temporary system files. These steps stop your computer from wasting memory on tasks you do not need right now. Most people see a significant change in speed after about twenty minutes of work.

Manage your startup applications

When you turn on your computer, many programs try to start running at the exact same time. This makes the initial boot process take several minutes and uses up your processing power before you even open a web browser. You should only allow the most essential tools to open automatically when you log in to your device.

• Right-click the Taskbar at the bottom of your screen and select Task Manager.
• Click on the Startup tab at the top of the window to see a list of every app that opens on boot.
• Look at the column labeled Startup impact to see which apps slow you down the most.
• Right-click any app you do not need immediately and select Disable.
• Restart your laptop to see how much faster it reaches the desktop screen.

How to speed up a slow laptop by clearing disk space

A full hard drive makes it very difficult for your operating system to move files around and stay fast. When your storage is nearly at its limit, the computer spends more time searching for open space than it does running your programs. Aim to keep at least twenty percent of your total storage space empty at all times.

You can use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool to find hidden files that are safe to delete. Open your Start menu, type Disk Cleanup, and select your main drive. Check the boxes for Temporary Files and Recycle Bin, then click OK to remove them. This simple act of storage management keeps the system lean. You might also want to move large video files or old folders to an external drive to keep your main system fast.

Adjust your power and performance settings

Laptops often try to save battery life by slowing down the processor when the device is not plugged in to a wall outlet. If you are working on a heavy project, you can tell the computer to prioritize speed over battery savings. This is one of the fastest ways to get a boost when you are using demanding software.

• Go to the Control Panel and click on Hardware and Sound.
• Select Power Options to see your current energy plan.
• Choose the High Performance plan to allow the processor to run at its maximum speed.
• If you are on a Mac, go to System Settings, click Battery, and look for the Power Mode dropdown.
• Select High Power or Better Performance from the list.

Check for background resource hogs

Sometimes a single tab in your web browser or a stuck background process can use up all your memory. This causes the entire system to lag or freeze for several seconds at a time. Regularly checking your active processes helps you find these issues before they crash your computer. Proper computer security also involves making sure no unknown software is running in the background without your permission.

Open the Task Manager again and stay on the Processes tab. Click the top of the CPU or Memory column to sort the list from highest to lowest. If you see a program using more than thirty percent of your resources while you are not using it, that is a problem. Highlight that program and click End Task to stop it instantly. Do this once a week to keep your laptop running at peak performance.

Uninstall apps you no longer use

Many laptops come with pre-installed software from the manufacturer that you might never use. These programs often run small updates or background checks that quietly drain your speed. Taking ten minutes to go through your installed apps list can free up both space and memory. Be careful to only remove names you recognize, such as old games or trial software.

• Open your Settings menu and click on the Apps section.
• Select Installed Apps to see the complete list of everything on your drive.
• Sort the list by Size to find the biggest programs first.
• Click the three dots next to an app you no longer need and choose Uninstall.
• Follow the prompts on the screen to completely remove the files from your system.