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Speed up a slow Windows PC

8 min read · Updated November 2026

Guessing wastes time. Look at what is actually busy, then fix that.

Find the bottleneck

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. On Processes, click CPU, Memory and Disk in turn to sort them. Anything running at its maximum for long periods is your target.

Fixes in order of impact

1. Startup apps: in the Startup apps tab, disable programs you do not need at sign-in.
2. Free space: keep at least 15% of the system drive free. Open Settings, System, Storage and turn on Storage Sense.
3. Updates: install pending Windows and driver updates, then restart.
4. Unused programs: remove them in Installed apps.
5. Malware check: run a Full scan. Hidden miners and adware can eat resources.
6. Browser tidy-up: disable extensions you do not use and close tab hoarding.

When software is not enough

• Memory constantly full: add RAM if the PC allows it.
• A constantly maxed-out old hard drive: moving to an SSD is the biggest upgrade most PCs can get.
• Fans loud and PC hot: clean dust from vents and check cooling.