How to Speed Up Your Slow Computer (10 Free Fixes to Try First)

Tuesday, 13 January 2026, 12:41 pm 0 Posted By Kaptain Kush

I’ve been fixing sluggish PCs and laptops for over 12 years now—everything from family members’ ancient desktops that could barely open a browser to clients’ work machines grinding to a halt during busy seasons.

The truth? Most slow computers aren’t dying; they’re just choked with digital clutter, bad habits, and overlooked settings that build up over time.

I’ve seen people drop hundreds on new hardware when a few free tweaks brought their machine back to life in under an hour. Here are the 10 free fixes I always start with (in the order I usually try them).

These work on Windows 10 and 11 (and most still apply to older versions), and they’ve saved countless systems from the scrap heap.

1. Just Restart It – Seriously, Do It Right Now

Sounds too basic, right? But in my experience, about 30% of “my computer is insanely slow” complaints vanish after a proper restart. When you leave your PC running for days (or weeks), temporary files pile up, memory leaks from background apps grow, and little glitches compound.

I once had a guy swear his brand-new laptop was defective—turns out he’d never restarted it since setting it up two months earlier. One reboot, and it was night and day. Make it a habit: restart at least once a day, especially if things start feeling laggy.

2. Hunt Down Resource-Hogging Processes in Task Manager

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and glance at the Processes tab. Sort by CPU or Memory—whatever’s spiking is usually the culprit. Common offenders I’ve seen: 20+ Chrome tabs (yes, each one eats RAM like candy), old antivirus scans stuck in a loop, or that photo-editing app you left minimized for three days.

End task on anything non-essential. I tell clients: “If you don’t recognize it or need it right this second, kill it.” Just don’t terminate Windows processes like explorer.exe—I’ve seen people do that and panic when the desktop vanishes.

3. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs (This One’s a Game-Changer)

Head back to Task Manager, switch to the Startup apps tab. You’ll likely see a laundry list of things launching every time you boot—Spotify, Discord, Adobe updater, printer software, you name it.

Right-click and disable anything rated “High” impact that you don’t need immediately on startup. I’ve cut boot times from 3+ minutes to under 45 seconds just by turning off 8–10 junk items. One client had 27 startup programs; after we pruned it to essentials, his ancient laptop felt reborn.

4. Free Up Disk Space – Aim for at Least 20% Empty

A nearly full drive is one of the top reasons for slow performance, especially on HDDs. Windows needs breathing room to create temporary files, swap memory, and handle updates. Use the built-in Storage Sense (Settings > System > Storage > Configure Storage Sense) or run Disk Cleanup (search for it in the Start menu).

Select your main drive, check everything (temporary files, thumbnails, old Windows installs), and hit clean up. I’ve reclaimed 40–80 GB of space on bloated systems this way—suddenly, apps open faster, and the whole machine feels snappier.

Pro tip: If you’re still on an old hard drive, upgrading to an SSD becomes tempting… but it’s not free, so stick to cleaning for now.

5. Scan for Malware – The Silent Speed Killer

Malware doesn’t always show flashy pop-ups; sometimes it quietly mines crypto or runs background tasks that chew CPU. Run a full scan with Windows Security (Virus & threat protection > Scan options > Full scan). It’s free and surprisingly thorough today.

I’ve pulled off coin-miners and adware bundles that were using 40% CPU constantly. After removal, the PC felt like it got a caffeine shot. If Defender finds nothing, but you still suspect something, grab the free version of Malwarebytes for a second opinion.

6. Update Windows and Drivers (Don’t Skip Optional Ones)

Outdated Windows can cause weird slowdowns, and driver issues (especially graphics) make everything stutter. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, install everything, then click “Advanced options” and grab optional driver updates.

I learned this the hard way early in my career—ignored an optional NVIDIA update, and a client’s gaming laptop was choppy for weeks until I forced the update.

7. Switch to Best Performance Power Mode

Especially on laptops: Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode > Best performance. Power saver mode throttles your CPU to save battery, making everything feel molasses-slow.

I switch clients’ machines to this when plugged in—huge difference for video calls, browsing, and light work. Just remember to flip back when on battery.

8. Turn Off Fancy Visual Effects

Right-click This PC > Properties > Advanced system settings > Performance Settings > Select Adjust for best performance.

Those smooth animations and transparency effects look nice, but on older hardware, they eat GPU/CPU cycles for no real benefit. I’ve done this on budget laptops from 2018–2020, and the responsiveness boost is immediate—scrolling feels smoother, windows snap faster.

9. Optimize Your Drives (Defrag If You Have an HDD)

Search for Defragment and Optimize Drives, select your main drive, and hit Optimize. Skip this on SSDs (Windows handles them automatically), but on traditional hard drives, fragmentation builds up and kills seek times.

One family PC I fixed had a fragmented 1TB HDD—after optimization, file access went from laggy to instant. It’s boring maintenance, but it works.

10. Limit Background Apps and Notifications

In Settings > Apps > Installed apps, click on resource-heavy ones (like social media or cloud sync apps) > Advanced options > set “Let this app run in the background” to Never.

Also, tame notifications (Settings > System > Notifications) to stop constant pings. These tiny interruptions add up, making the system feel jerky. Bonus quick win: Close browser tabs—I’ve seen people with 50+ tabs open, turning 16GB RAM machines into slugs.

Try these in order, and restart after big changes (like startup tweaks or updates). In my experience, combining just 3–5 of them often makes a slow computer feel 2–3x faster without spending a dime.

If after all this, your machine is still crawling, it might be time for hardware (SSD upgrade or more RAM)—but 80% of the time, these free fixes do the trick.

Drop a comment if one works especially well for you—I love hearing real-world wins!

FAQ

Why is my computer so slow all of a sudden?

It usually happens because too many programs are running in the background, your drive is almost full, or temporary files and clutter have built up over time. In my experience, a quick restart often reveals resource-hogging apps you forgot were open—like 30 Chrome tabs or a stuck update process.

How do I speed up my slow computer for free?

Start with the basics: restart your PC, close unnecessary apps in Task Manager, disable high-impact startup programs, free up disk space with Disk Cleanup, and run a malware scan. These steps alone have revived countless sluggish machines I’ve worked on without spending a cent.

Does restarting my computer really make it faster?

Absolutely—it’s the quickest win. Restarting clears RAM, stops memory leaks, and kills stuck processes. I’ve seen people complain about “broken” computers that magically fixed themselves after a simple reboot they hadn’t done in weeks.

What programs should I disable at startup to speed up my PC?

Anything non-essential like Spotify, Discord, cloud sync apps (Dropbox/OneDrive if you don’t need instant access), printer software, or Adobe updaters. Check the Startup tab in Task Manager—disable anything marked “High” impact that you don’t need right after boot. This one tweak often cuts boot time in half.

How much free disk space do I need to make my computer run faster?

Keep at least 15-20% of your drive empty, especially on HDDs. When drives fill up, Windows struggles with temporary files and virtual memory. I’ve reclaimed 50+ GB on client machines just by cleaning temp files and old downloads—sudden speed boost every time.

Can malware make my computer slow even if I don’t see pop-ups?

Yes, absolutely. Background miners or adware quietly use CPU and disk without obvious signs. Run a full Windows Security scan (or Malwarebytes free) regularly—I’ve removed hidden threats that were eating 30-50% CPU constantly, and the PC felt brand new afterward.

Should I defragment my drive to speed up my computer?

Only if you have a traditional hard drive (HDD). On SSDs, Windows handles optimization automatically—defragging can actually harm them. For HDDs, running the built-in Optimize Drives tool once a month helps a lot with file access speed on fragmented drives.

How do visual effects affect computer speed?

Animations, shadows, and transparency look great but tax older hardware. Switching to “Adjust for best performance” in System Properties > Advanced > Performance Settings makes everything feel snappier, especially on budget laptops from a few years back.

Why does my laptop feel slower on battery power?

It’s in Power Saver mode, which throttles the CPU to extend battery life. Switch to “Best performance” when plugged in (Settings > Power & battery). Many users forget this and think their laptop is dying—flipping the mode often doubles perceived speed.

When should I consider upgrading hardware instead of free fixes?

If your PC is still crawling after all these tweaks, low RAM (under 8GB for modern use), an old HDD, or very outdated hardware are likely the culprits. Upgrading to an SSD or adding RAM gives the biggest jump, but try the free stuff first—it’s surprising how often it’s enough.

Do too many browser tabs slow down my entire computer?

Definitely, especially in Chrome or Edge. Each tab uses RAM and can spike CPU. I’ve seen machines with 8GB RAM grind to a halt with 40+ tabs—close extras or use extensions to suspend them, and you’ll feel the difference immediately.

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About The Author

Kaptain Kush

SEO Expert, WordPress Developer, Entrepreneur, Musician, Blogger.