Computer is running slow

Work through these in order. Note that a slow computer is very rarely a hardware fault; it’s nearly always one of the first three things below.

1. Restart it

Not shut down and start up. Restart. Windows Fast Startup means a shutdown doesn’t fully clear memory, so a machine that’s been “turned off and on again” might not have actually restarted in weeks.

Start menu → Power → Restart. This alone fixes a startling proportion of slowness complaints.

2. Is Windows Update running?

A big update chews through the drive and processor in the background and makes everything feel sluggish while it does.

Settings → Windows Update. If something is downloading or installing, leave it alone until it finishes, then restart. Fighting an update makes it worse.

3. How many things are actually open?

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then look at the Memory column.

If memory is sitting at or near 100%, you’ve run out of room and Windows is constantly shuffling data, which feels exactly like a slow computer. Close what you’re not using. Browser tabs are the usual offender; each one costs memory, and dozens of them add up fast.

If this happens routinely, you want more memory rather than a new computer. See Upgrading memory and storage.

4. Slow to start up specifically?

Task Manager → Startup apps tab. This lists everything that launches with Windows and competes for resources while you’re waiting for a usable desktop.

Disable anything you don’t need running from the moment you log in. Chat apps, updaters, printer utilities and games launchers are typical candidates. Disabling a startup app doesn’t uninstall it; you can still open it normally.

5. Is the drive full?

Settings → System → Storage.

A drive with almost no free space slows the whole machine down, because Windows needs working room. Keep at least 10 to 15% free. Delete what you don’t need, or move photos and videos to an external drive.

6. Check for malware

Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options → Full scan. It takes a while, so start it and go do something else.

7. Is it hot?

Is the fan roaring constantly? Is the base of the laptop hot? A machine that’s overheating deliberately slows itself down to protect the hardware.

Check the vents aren’t blocked. A laptop on a bed or a couch blocks its own air intake, which is the most common cause. Put it on a hard surface.

If the vents are clear and it’s still overheating, the internal cooling may need attention. That’s something we can look at.

Still slow?

If you’ve been through all of the above and it’s still not right, talk to us. If there’s an underlying hardware fault (a failing drive is the usual suspect), it’s covered by your warranty.