How to Speed Up a Slow Windows 11 PC: 10 Fixes in Order of Impact
Before you buy a new computer, work through these fixes. Most slow Windows 11 PCs are held back by startup apps, a full drive or too little memory.
To speed up a slow Windows 11 PC, start with the fixes that matter most: restart it properly, turn off unneeded startup apps in Settings > Apps > Startup, free up disk space, and install pending updates. If it’s still slow after that, check for malware, switch the power mode to Best performance, and consider adding RAM or an SSD.
The steps below are ordered roughly by how much difference they make on a typical home PC. Work through them in order and stop when the computer feels fast again.
1. Restart (a real restart, not shutdown)
Windows 11 uses Fast Startup by default, which means Shut down doesn’t fully clear memory and running processes. A Restart does. If your PC has been on for days, choose Start > Power > Restart. This alone often fixes sluggishness caused by a misbehaving app or driver.
2. Find out what’s actually slowing it down
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then open the Processes page. Click the CPU, Memory and Disk column headers to sort by usage.
- One app using a lot of CPU or memory? Close it, update it, or uninstall it.
- Memory constantly above 85–90%? Your PC likely needs fewer open apps or more RAM (see step 9).
- Disk at 100% for long periods? That points to an old hard drive or a background task such as indexing or an update.
3. Turn off unnecessary startup apps
Many apps add themselves to startup and run in the background all day. Disabling them is one of the most effective speed-ups, especially for boot time.
- Open Settings > Apps > Startup.
- Sort by Startup impact.
- Turn off apps you don’t need the moment Windows starts, such as game launchers, chat apps you rarely use, and updaters for printers or other accessories.
Leave your antivirus and anything you rely on for syncing (for example OneDrive, if you use it) turned on. You can also manage the same list in Task Manager > Startup apps.
4. Free up disk space
A nearly full drive slows down updates, file operations and virtual memory. Aim to keep at least 15–20% of your system drive free.
- Go to Settings > System > Storage.
- Open Temporary files and remove what you don’t need (review the Downloads folder carefully before ticking it).
- Open Cleanup recommendations to find large or unused files and apps.
- Turn on Storage Sense to clean temporary files automatically.
5. Install Windows and driver updates
Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Also look under Advanced options > Optional updates for driver updates. Updates fix bugs and security holes that can affect performance. Windows 11 version 26H2 began rolling out in late September 2026, and version 24H2 Home and Pro editions stopped receiving updates in October 2026, so if you’re still on 24H2, updating is important for security as well as stability. You can check your version in Settings > System > About.
For graphics drivers, the PC maker’s support site or the GPU maker’s official app usually has newer versions than Windows Update.
6. Scan for malware
Malware and unwanted adware can eat CPU and network bandwidth. Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection and run a Quick scan. If something seems wrong, choose Scan options > Microsoft Defender Offline scan, which restarts the PC and scans before Windows loads. Don’t disable your antivirus to gain speed: the gain is tiny and the risk is real.
7. Uninstall apps you don’t use
Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps and remove trial software, old utilities and preinstalled extras you never open. Be cautious with anything that has your PC maker’s name or mentions drivers, audio, or touchpad; those are often needed.
8. Change the power mode
Laptops in particular may hold back performance to save battery.
- Go to Settings > System > Power & battery (on desktops it’s Power).
- Under Power mode, choose Best performance.
Expect shorter battery life and more fan noise. On a laptop, plugging in also helps, because many systems throttle on battery.
9. Reduce visual effects
On older or low-end PCs, animations and transparency use some resources. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects and turn off Transparency effects and Animation effects. The gain is modest on modern hardware but noticeable on weak machines.
10. Upgrade the hardware that’s holding you back
If all the software fixes are done and the PC is still slow, the bottleneck is usually hardware:
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Slow boot, Disk at 100% in Task Manager | Spinning hard drive (HDD) | Move to an SSD; the single biggest upgrade for older PCs |
| Memory near 90% with a browser and a few apps open | 8GB of RAM or less | Add RAM if your PC has a free or replaceable slot; 16GB is comfortable for most people |
| Fans loud, PC slows down after a few minutes | Overheating and thermal throttling | Clean dust from vents, use the laptop on a hard surface |
Check your PC model’s specs before buying parts, as many thin laptops have memory soldered to the board.
What not to do
- Don’t install ‘PC cleaner’ or ‘registry cleaner’ apps. They rarely help and some are adware. Windows has the tools you need built in.
- Don’t defragment an SSD manually. Windows’ Optimize Drives tool already handles SSDs correctly (it runs TRIM instead).
- Don’t turn off Windows Update or Defender for speed.
Last resort: reset Windows
If the PC is still slow and you’ve ruled out hardware, a reset gives you a clean system. Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC and choose Keep my files. Your apps will be removed, so back up important data and note which programs you need first. Microsoft has more detail on its Windows support site.
Bottom line
Most slow Windows 11 PCs get noticeably faster after a restart, trimming startup apps, freeing disk space and installing updates. If that doesn’t do it, Task Manager will usually show whether you’re short on RAM or stuck with an old hard drive, and those are the upgrades worth paying for.
FAQ
Does Windows 11 need more RAM than Windows 10?
The official minimum is 4GB, but in practice 8GB is the realistic floor for light use and 16GB is comfortable for multitasking with many browser tabs.
Will turning off Fast Startup make my PC faster?
It can make boots slightly slower, but it ensures every shutdown is a clean one. Simply using Restart when the PC feels sluggish gives you the same benefit.
Is it safe to disable all startup apps?
Not all. Keep security software and anything you need running in the background, like cloud sync or audio and touchpad utilities from your PC maker.
Should I use Game Mode?
Game Mode (Settings > Gaming > Game Mode) is on by default and mainly helps while gaming. It won’t speed up everyday tasks.
