How to Speed Up a Slow Computer: Free Fixes First, Upgrades Last

A slow computer costs you more than patience. It’s the 3 minutes waiting for a laptop to boot before a client call, the spreadsheet that freezes when you scroll, the browser that stutters with 20 tabs open. Most people jump straight to “I need a new computer.” Usually, you don’t.

The trick is to work in the right order: free fixes first, then cleanup, then diagnosis, and only then upgrades. This guide walks you through that order for both Windows and Mac, using the menu paths Microsoft and Apple publish in their own support guides.

Step 1: restart and install updates

It sounds too simple, but a full restart fixes a surprising number of slowdowns. Sleep and hibernate keep apps and memory leaks alive for days or weeks. A restart clears memory and closes stuck background processes.

On Windows 11: go to Start > Power > Restart. Then open Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Microsoft also suggests checking Advanced options > Optional updates, where newer device drivers often sit.

On Mac: choose Apple menu > Restart, then check Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update.

Updates matter for speed because they often include driver fixes, bug fixes for memory leaks and performance tuning. They matter even more for security, which brings us to an important side note.

If you’re still on Windows 10, mainstream support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates program now runs through October 12, 2027, and you can enroll at no cost by syncing your PC settings, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or with a one-time $30 payment. Our guide to Windows 10 end of support covers your options in detail.

Step 2: cut down what starts with your computer

Startup apps are the most common reason a computer feels sluggish for the first few minutes after you log in. Chat apps, cloud sync tools, game launchers, printer utilities and updaters all want to start the moment you sign in.

On Windows 11: press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, select Startup apps, then right-click anything you don’t need at login and choose Disable. Disabling doesn’t uninstall the app. You can still open it whenever you want.

You can also stop individual apps from running in the background. Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the More options (…) menu next to an app, choose Advanced options and set “Let this app run in the background” to Never.

On Mac: open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions. Remove apps from the “Open at Login” list, and review the App Background Activity section, which controls apps that run tasks even when they’re closed.

Key takeaway: Disabling 5 or 6 startup apps you never use at login is free, takes about 2 minutes and often gives the biggest single improvement in how fast a computer feels after you sign in.

Step 3: free up storage space

A nearly full drive slows everything down. Your operating system needs free space for temporary files, updates, virtual memory and caches. Apple lists a startup disk short on free space as one of the first things to check when a Mac runs slowly.

On Windows 11:

1. Open Start > Settings > System > Storage.
2. Turn on Storage Sense, or select “Run Storage Sense now” to clear temporary files and empty the Recycle Bin on a schedule.
3. Select Temporary files to review and remove leftover update files and caches.
4. Uninstall apps you don’t use from Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.

On Mac:

1. Open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage.
2. Review the recommendations, such as storing files in iCloud or emptying the Trash automatically.
3. Sort the categories to find large files, old downloads and unused apps.

The biggest space hogs are usually videos, old phone backups, the Downloads folder and apps you installed once. Before deleting anything important, make sure it’s backed up. Our guide to backing up your photos walks through safe options.

Step 4: find out what’s actually using your computer

If your computer is slow all the time, not just at startup, something is using its processor (CPU), memory (RAM) or disk. Both operating systems include free tools that show you exactly what.

Common culprits include a browser with dozens of tabs, a cloud sync app re-uploading a huge folder, a video call app left running and third-party “cleaner” or antivirus tools that scan constantly. Apple’s own advice is to quit apps you’re not using and to quit any app that isn’t compatible with your Mac.

If a browser is the problem, close tabs, remove extensions you don’t use and turn on the browser’s tab-sleeping or memory saver feature if it has one.

Step 5: rule out malware and other hidden problems

Malware can make a computer slow by mining cryptocurrency, sending spam or hijacking your browser. Unusually high CPU or disk use with no obvious app responsible is a warning sign.

On Windows 11: go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection and run a Quick scan. If something turns up, follow the prompts and then run a full scan.

On Mac: macOS includes built-in malware protection that updates in the background. Keep your Mac updated, only install apps from the App Store or identified developers, and remove browser extensions you don’t recognize.

Learn more about what you might be dealing with in our explainer on types of malware.

It also helps to rule out problems that aren’t really the computer. If web pages load slowly but everything else is fast, the problem is likely your connection. See why your Wi-Fi is so slow before you blame the laptop.

Step 6: change a few performance settings

A few settings trade looks or battery life for speed. They help most on older or low-memory computers.

• Power mode (Windows 11): go to Start > Settings > System > Power & battery and set Power mode to Best performance. Expect shorter battery life on a laptop.
• Visual effects (Windows 11): search Start for “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows”, open the Visual Effects tab and choose “Adjust for best performance”. This turns off animations and shadows.
• Optimize drives (Windows 11): search for “Defragment and Optimize Drives”, select your drive and choose Optimize. Windows handles solid-state drives and hard drives differently, so let the tool decide.
• Notifications: fewer pop-ups means fewer apps waking up. Trim them under Start > Settings > System > Notifications on Windows or System Settings > Notifications on Mac.
• Mac disk check: open Disk Utility, select your startup disk and run First Aid to find and repair disk errors.

Step 7: upgrade the hardware that’s holding you back

If you’ve done everything above and the computer is still slow, the hardware may simply be behind what you ask of it. Here’s how to decide what to upgrade.

An SSD is usually the best value upgrade for a computer that still runs on a spinning hard drive. Solid-state drives have no moving parts and load apps and files far faster. If your Windows PC has a hard disk drive, this single change can make it feel like a different machine.

More RAM helps if memory is the bottleneck. Microsoft lists 4 GB of RAM as the Windows 11 minimum, but that’s a floor, not a comfortable target for modern browsers and office apps. Check Task Manager first: if memory use stays high during your normal work, more RAM will help. If it doesn’t, more RAM won’t fix anything.

Check whether you can upgrade at all. Many thin laptops have memory soldered to the board. On Macs with Apple silicon, memory and storage are built into the system and are chosen when you buy the Mac, so the practical “upgrade” is an external drive for storage or a new machine.

Know when to replace. If your PC can’t meet Windows 11 requirements, which include TPM 2.0, UEFI with Secure Boot, at least 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, it may be time for a new computer. Our comparison of Mac vs Windows vs Chromebook helps you pick the right replacement.

Where to start today

If you only have 15 minutes, do this, in this order:

1. Save your work and restart the computer.
2. Install any pending system updates.
3. Disable startup apps you don’t need at login.
4. Check free storage and clear temporary files or old downloads.
5. Open Task Manager or Activity Monitor and close anything using lots of CPU or memory.
6. Run a malware scan on Windows.

If it’s still slow after a week of normal use, move on to the performance settings and, finally, the hardware table above. For business computers, add these steps to a regular maintenance routine, and look up terms like SSD, RAM and TPM in our tech glossary.

Conclusion

Most slow computers aren’t broken. They’re overloaded with startup apps, low on storage or running 1 misbehaving program. Work from free fixes to paid upgrades and you’ll either get your speed back or know exactly why it’s time for a new machine. Either way, you’ll stop guessing.

Sources

• Microsoft Support: Tips to improve PC performance in Windows — Windows 11 menu paths for updates, startup apps, storage, visual effects, power mode and malware scans
• Apple Support: If your Mac runs slowly — Apple’s checks for disk space, memory, incompatible apps and Disk Utility
• Apple Support: Change Login Items & Extensions settings on Mac — where to manage apps that open at login and background activity
• Microsoft: Windows 11 specifications and system requirements — minimum RAM, storage, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements
• Microsoft: Windows 10 Extended Security Updates — consumer ESU end date of October 12, 2027 and enrollment options