How to speed up a slow computer

Your computer takes ages to start, the browser freezes, and you could brew a pot of tea while a Word file opens. Many people immediately decide the computer is “too old”, but the cause is often simple: dozens of programs that launch by themselves at startup, a full disk, hundreds of open tabs or a fan clogged with dust. In this guide you will learn to find the cause with Task Manager and fix it step by step: startup apps, disk clean-up, the browser, updates and malware, overheating and power mode, when an SSD or extra RAM makes sense, reinstalling the system, and alternatives for macOS. At the end there are common mistakes, a practice exercise and a checklist.

Menu names follow the English interface of Windows 10 and 11; where the paths differ, both are given.

Find the cause first: Task Manager

A doctor makes a diagnosis before prescribing medicine. The same applies to a computer: first you need to know what is slowing it down. Windows has a ready-made tool for this: Task Manager.

The quickest way to open it is Ctrl + Shift + Esc. If a small window appears, click More details at the bottom.

The Processes tab shows every running program and how much of the computer’s resources it uses. The main columns are:

• CPU: processor load. If it stays high even when you are doing nothing, some program is “working non-stop”.
• Memory: RAM usage. It fills up when many programs and tabs are open; once it is full, the system starts using the disk as extra memory and everything slows down.
• Disk: disk activity. On computers with a traditional hard drive (HDD), this column often sits at full load for long periods, which is one of the most common signs of a slow machine.

Click a column name and programs are sorted by that measure, with the “greediest” one at the top. To close a program that has frozen, select it and click End task. Only close programs you recognise: ending unfamiliar system processes can make the computer unstable.

The Performance tab gives the overall picture: the processor, how much memory there is and how much is in use, and the disk type (SSD or HDD).

A hypothetical example: Dilnoza opa’s computer freezes while she is preparing an accounting report. In Task Manager, memory is almost full, and most of it is taken by a browser with more than twenty tabs open. So the problem is not an “old computer” but the tabs.

Another simple but often forgotten step is a restart. Because of Fast Startup, which is turned on by default in Windows, Shut down does not fully “clear” the system, whereas Restart reloads it completely. If the computer has not been switched off for weeks, start by simply restarting it.

Tidying up programs and the disk

Startup apps: what runs when the computer starts

Many programs add themselves to the startup list when installed: messengers, update services, printer software and gaming platforms. As a result, dozens of programs are already using memory and processor time before you have opened anything.

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
2. Go to the Startup apps tab in Windows 11 or Startup in Windows 10.
3. Look at the Startup impact column: High, Medium or Low shows how much a program slows down startup.
4. Select a program you do not need as soon as the computer starts and click Disable.

The same list is available in Settings → Apps → Startup. Disabling does not uninstall the program: it simply stops it from starting by itself, and you can still open it as usual when you need it. Leave items related to your antivirus, touchpad, and sound and graphics drivers. If a name is unfamiliar, search for it online first.

Removing programs you do not need

Over the years a computer collects programs used once, trial versions and add-ons that were installed “bundled” with something else.

1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps in Windows 11 or Settings → Apps → Apps & features in Windows 10.
2. Sort the list by size (Size) or installation date.
3. Click the three dots next to the unwanted program (Windows 11) or the program itself (Windows 10) and choose Uninstall.

Think before you remove anything: packages with cryptic names such as “Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable” and driver packages are needed by other programs. Only remove what you recognise and do not use.

Cleaning up the disk

When the system drive (usually C:) is full, Windows runs out of room for temporary files and updates: the computer slows down and updates fail to install. If the drive bar in This PC in File Explorer has turned red, take it as a serious warning.

1. Open Settings → System → Storage: it shows what is taking up the disk, by category.
2. Click Temporary files, tick what you do not need and click Remove files. Be careful: the list may include the Downloads folder, so untick it if you keep files you need there.
3. Turn on Storage Sense, and Windows will regularly remove temporary files and old items from the Recycle Bin by itself.
4. The classic Disk Cleanup tool still works too: search for it in the Start menu, choose drive C: and click Clean up system files to remove old update files as well.

More often, though, we fill the disk ourselves: hundreds of installers in Downloads, videos copied from a phone, dozens of copies of the same document. This is covered in detail in the article on organising files and folders. Moving large photos and videos to an external drive or to cloud storage also frees up space.

The browser: tabs, extensions and cache

Email, documents, video lessons, banking services: it all happens in the browser, so slowness very often comes from there.

• Tabs. Every open tab uses memory, especially video, online documents and social media. Save the pages you need as Bookmarks and close the tabs. Memory Saver in Chrome (Settings → Performance) and Sleeping tabs in Edge put inactive tabs “to sleep” and free up memory.
• The browser’s own Task Manager. In Chrome and Edge, Shift + Esc opens a task manager inside the browser, showing which tab or extension is using the most resources.
• Extensions. Every extension runs alongside the browser. Type chrome://extensions in Chrome or edge://extensions in Edge into the address bar and remove the ones you do not use (Remove). An unfamiliar extension that you did not install yourself can also be a sign of a security problem.
• Cache. The cache usually makes pages load faster, but sometimes it causes a site to misbehave. In the Ctrl + Shift + Delete window, choose “Cached images and files” and clear it. There is no need to do this every day, only when something goes wrong.

You can read about managing tabs quickly from the keyboard (Ctrl + W to close a tab, Ctrl + Shift + T to reopen a closed one) in the article on keyboard shortcuts.

Updates and checking for malware

Windows Update and drivers

Updates are not just new features: they also fix bugs and close security holes.

1. Open Settings → Windows Update in Windows 11 or Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update in Windows 10.
2. Click Check for updates and install what is found. If a restart is requested, save your work and click Restart.
3. For drivers in Windows 11, look in Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates.
4. Download graphics card or laptop drivers only from the manufacturer’s official website or its official update app. Avoid unknown programs that promise to “update all your drivers in one click”.

While updates are installing, the computer may run more slowly for a while; that is normal, so do not switch it off halfway through.

Scanning with Windows Security

Malware can also slow a computer down: it secretly uses the processor, opens adverts or sends data. Warning signs: the browser’s home page has changed by itself, lots of pop-up adverts, programs you did not install, and constantly high CPU load even when you are doing nothing.

1. Open Windows Security from the Start menu.
2. Click Virus & threat protection → Quick scan.
3. If you still have doubts, choose Scan options → Full scan (it takes a long time).
4. For particularly “stubborn” malware, choose the offline scan option on the same page (in Windows 11, Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan)): the computer restarts and checks the disk before the system loads.

Do not install two or three antivirus programs at once: they get in each other’s way and end up slowing the computer down themselves. For an ordinary user, the protection built into Windows is enough. How to stay safe from suspicious links and files is explained in detail in the article on online safety.

Overheating, dust and power mode

Overheating and dust

When the processor gets too hot, it automatically lowers its speed to protect itself. That is why a hot computer slows down “for no reason”. Signs: the fan is constantly loud, the case gets very hot, and the computer slows down or switches itself off in summer heat or under heavy load.

What you can safely do yourself:

• Use a laptop on a hard, flat surface rather than on a pillow, a blanket or your lap, so the air vents underneath are not blocked.
• Switch the computer off, unplug it and clean dust from the vents and grilles from the outside with a soft brush or a can of compressed air.

Contact a specialist if the laptop needs to be opened (especially while it is under warranty, as opening it yourself may void the warranty), if it still overheats after cleaning, if the thermal paste needs replacing or if the fan makes strange noises. A hypothetical example: Sardor, a student in Tashkent, found his laptop often froze during classes in summer. External cleaning did not help, so he went to a service centre, where the inside was cleaned and the thermal paste replaced.

Power mode

Laptops often reduce performance to save battery.

• In Windows 11: Settings → System → Power & battery → Power mode: Best power efficiency, Balanced or Best performance.
• In Windows 10, click the battery icon on the taskbar and move the slider.

For heavy work (video editing, a large spreadsheet), plug the laptop in and choose Best performance; for everyday tasks Balanced is enough. In high-performance mode the battery drains faster and the computer runs hotter.

Moving from HDD to SSD and adding RAM

If software clean-up has not helped, the cause may lie in the hardware. Two upgrades bring the most benefit, but only in the right situation.

When an SSD makes sense

In Task Manager, Performance → Disk shows the disk type: HDD or SSD. If your system drive is an HDD and the Disk column often shows full load, switching to an SSD usually makes the most noticeable difference: Windows starts, programs open and files are found much faster. If your computer already runs on an SSD, this step does not apply to you.

Installing an SSD means moving or reinstalling the system, so first make a backup of your important files. If you are not confident doing the work yourself, leave it to a specialist.

When adding RAM makes sense

Performance → Memory shows the total amount of memory, how much is in use and Slots used. If memory is almost always full during ordinary work (browser, office software) and there is a free slot, adding RAM makes sense. If memory is not even half full, extra RAM will not make the computer faster.

Note: in many thin laptops the memory is soldered to the board and cannot be upgraded. Check the memory type and maximum capacity for your laptop model on the manufacturer’s website.

If your computer genuinely cannot cope with your tasks, read the article on choosing a computer to see what to look for in a new one.

The last resort: reinstalling the system, and macOS

Reset this PC

If nothing else helps, reinstalling Windows clears out years of accumulated “junk” in one go. It is a serious step, so prepare first:

1. Make a backup. Copy documents, photos and work files to an external drive or the cloud. Check that your browser bookmarks and passwords are synced.
2. Write down the list of programs, as you will need to reinstall them.
3. Check your licences and account details.
4. In Windows 11: Settings → System → Recovery → Reset PC; in Windows 10: Settings → Update & Security → Recovery → Reset this PC → Get started.
5. Keep my files keeps your personal files but removes programs and settings. Remove everything deletes it all.

Keep the laptop plugged in and do not interrupt the process.

Quick alternatives for macOS

On a Mac the logic is the same; only the tool names differ:

• Activity Monitor: the equivalent of Task Manager. Press Cmd + Space and search for “Activity Monitor”. It has CPU, Memory and Disk tabs; to quit a program, select it and click the X button at the top.
• Login Items: startup programs, in System Settings → General → Login Items.
• Storage: disk space, in System Settings → General → Storage.
• Software Update: System Settings → General → Software Update.

Common mistakes

• “Speed-up” programs. Dubious “optimisers” and “cleaners” advertised as “speeding up your computer in one click” are often useless, and some show adverts, install extra programs or turn out to be malicious. The tools built into Windows are enough.
• Registry cleaners. “Cleaning” the registry gives no noticeable speed boost, but a wrongly deleted entry can break the system or programs. Microsoft does not recommend using such programs.
• Turning off updates completely. It may seem faster, but the computer is left without security fixes.
• Deleting unfamiliar files and folders. Manually deleting things from the Windows or Program Files folders can break the system.
• Defragmenting an SSD by hand. Windows looks after drives itself through the Optimize Drives tool; classic defragmentation is not needed for an SSD.
• Reinstalling without a backup. The most painful mistake of all: family photos or work files are lost for good.

Practice exercise and checklist

You can do this exercise in a single evening. After each step, notice how the computer behaves, so you can tell which step helped.

1. Save your work and Restart the computer.
2. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Sort by the CPU, Memory and Disk columns and write down the three programs using the most resources.
3. On the Performance tab, note your disk type (SSD or HDD) and amount of memory.
4. Disable at least two unnecessary programs in the Startup apps list.
5. Uninstall one program from Installed apps that you have not used for over a year.
6. In Settings → System → Storage, clear temporary files and turn on Storage Sense.
7. Remove unused browser extensions, and save unneeded tabs as bookmarks before closing them.
8. Check for updates in Windows Update and run a Quick scan in Windows Security.
9. Switch the computer off and clean the dust from the vents from the outside.
10. Turn the computer back on and compare startup and browser opening speed with how they were before.

Checklist

• The cause of the slowdown (CPU, Memory or Disk) has been found in Task Manager.
• Only the programs you need are left in startup.
• Unnecessary programs are removed and there is free space on the system drive.
• The browser has no unnecessary extensions or dozens of open tabs.
• Windows is up to date and the antivirus scan is clean.
• The air vents are clear and free of dust, and the power mode suits the task.
• Any decision about an SSD or RAM is based on Task Manager data.
• There is a backup of your important files.

If you go through this list once a month, your computer will keep running smoothly for a long time. If you would like to learn computer basics systematically with a teacher, our association’s free computer literacy programme is a good fit.

To explore other areas too, take a look at the association’s free training programmes. When you are ready, submit an application and our specialists will get in touch.