There are many who wonder why their laptop is running slow. Some remember that it’s always been this way, but perhaps it’s never been this bad. Did something change, or did you just get unlucky? Maybe you already called in a professional to diagnose your computer? And what if repairing the laptop is beyond your budget? Let’s face it: diagnosis first, not repair or replacement, is the goal of this guide.
Check What Is Using Your Laptop’s Resources First
Diagnosis is key when solving any problem, and investigation is where that diagnosis starts. You can, and should, diagnose your computer for resource-heavy processes before taking any action.
Check CPU Usage
In Task Manager, look at the Processes section. Identify applications that consume high amounts of CPU or run with multiple instances and close unneeded ones. Malware is another possibility today, but you shouldn’t overlook it.
Microsoft Support recommends pressing the key combination Ctrl+Shift+Esc and navigating to Processes and then to Performance in Task Manager. There, focus on the apps and processes occupying the lion’s share of your processor’s workload.
Uninstalling unwanted or unused applications that occupy too much CPU can be one step in curing your laptop speed problem. If too many programs are running in the background, and they’re consuming system resources, investigate startup apps and uninstall unnecessary software.
Check Memory Usage
But there are other explanations for a slow computer. Low memory often decreases computer performance because RAM is faster than disk storage. Adding more RAM allows handling various tasks more rapidly, as your system does not need to rely as heavily on slower disk paging.
Observe how nearly all of your programs, applications, games, and even your operating system run in your computer’s memory. And they do not only use physical RAM, but a significant part is also allocated for cached data they might need again at some point. In doing so, they keep frequently used data ready in memory.
But how much is too much, and when does it become a problem? In practice, RAM usage staying consistently near 100% in Task Manager means you might be headed in that direction, so keep an eye on the gauge and don’t miss the warning signs.
Check Disk Usage
Low disk space can slow your computer, too. In fact, the condition becomes more noticeable when Windows has very little free space left on the system drive. Exhausted storage can leave too little space for the system to temporarily store files, install updates, and use paging efficiently.
Too Many Programs Are Running in the Background
Startup apps and hidden processes can use a lot of your system’s resources and cost you time and processing power. And then you naturally ask yourself: how can I prevent startup apps from using too much of my laptop’s resources? First, let’s identify them. Use Task Manager to navigate to Startup apps and then to Startup impact. Microsoft Support recommends reviewing unnecessary startup items in the Startup apps list or disabling them.
Your Laptop Is Running Out of Storage Space
What could be the cause of a computer that’s full to the brim and approaching disk capacity? Uninstall applications you no longer use, use the Windows Storage Sense cleanup tool to clear temporary and unused files, and give your laptop a breath of fresh air.
But it may not always be enough to free up space. You may have a system drive running out of storage, leaving no room for essential operating system files, and all your critical information, including your OS, software, and files, is stored on this drive, so it’s vital to keep it running smoothly and responsively.
Getting rid of unused apps and superfluous files is a necessary step towards solving your laptop speed problem. But sometimes, system drive filling appears first, and removing unneeded startup items is just symptom management. Think: what is the root cause of your storage pain? Is it very high usage of your laptop’s capacity, or is it some piece of software that is clogging the system? Whatever the reason, don’t forget to include storage checks when monitoring its performance.
Your Laptop May Not Have Enough RAM
You may have a computer that doesn’t have enough memory. For many everyday workloads, installing 16 gigabytes of memory is a practical solution. However, expect this cost to grow significantly with higher-capacity modules. Here, I don’t aim to sell you on adding more RAM or “supercharge your computer” in some way.
When you have too many tabs in your browser, for instance, and multitask with other applications, you will likely want more RAM for a comfortable user experience. If occasional browser slowdowns happen even with only a few tabs open, maybe increasing your laptop’s memory won’t help your user experience.
In addition, there is often some confusion between RAM and storage. So consider the following: memory and storage are equally essential, but serve different purposes. While RAM is intended for short-term working data (information applications need while running), a storage drive is intended for long-term storage, keeping files even when you shut down.
And your laptop, having a smaller storage and RAM capacity, can hit limits in either area. Microsoft lists 4 gigabytes of RAM as the minimum for Windows 11 — meaning that your third-party software, installed applications, and games should be your real memory benchmark, not a minimum requirement tailored to the operating system.
Your Hard Drive May Be the Bottleneck
Understand that your laptop has two common storage drive types: a hard disk drive (HDD) and a solid state drive (SSD). Windows generally boots, launches applications, and handles storage-intensive work faster on an SSD than on an HDD, so moving a device’s OS to an SSD can boost its performance.
An SSD is a solid-state drive, and an HDD is a hard disk drive. An SSD is generally a faster and more expensive storage type per gigabyte than an HDD. This means you will get your data faster, but the drive may cost you more.
For an SSD upgrade, compatibility matters more than raw speed: the drive has to match the laptop’s supported form factor and interface, such as 2.5-inch SATA or M.2 NVMe. This is where laptop-parts sources such as Zeto can be useful for comparing compatible drive types, capacities, and specifications before replacing an older HDD.
On the other hand, an HDD is a mechanical drive where data is stored on spinning disks, which makes it slower but more affordable per gigabyte and available in larger capacities. HDDs are also more commonly found in older devices, which means that an HDD or hard disk drive might be the bottleneck of your laptop’s performance. But why is that important to you? Because an SSD upgrade can be one of the most noticeable storage upgrades, and determining whether your laptop has an HDD or SSD may prevent unnecessary spending.
Your Laptop Is Getting Too Hot
Processor throttling limits a computer’s performance, and knowing what causes your laptop’s performance limit to trigger, you can deal with it more effectively. This thermal protection helps prevent damage in many laptops and affects performance by reducing CPU clock speed when the processor temperature rises above the device’s thermal limit.
How do you know if your computer is thermal-throttling? It may appear as reduced speed, stuttering, or occasional sudden performance slowdowns. You may also notice your laptop getting hot. Of course, thermal-throttling cases are not always the reason for performance degradation, so let’s ask: what is causing the thermal throttling of your laptop?
Thermal throttling indicates your device has reached its thermal limit, so let’s check for physical obstacles blocking vents and cooling systems before trying other solutions. Check for debris buildup, damaged fans, or faulty cooling systems, and you might get more out of your laptop than guessing which software setting degrades performance.
Your Power Settings Are Limiting Performance
On the power options page, you may see Windows power modes: Best performance, Balanced, and Best power efficiency. The user may notice that enabling Best performance mode when the laptop battery is about to die will result in faster battery drain. Or transferring the mode to Balanced indicates the system is balancing performance and power use.
Windows devices may expose different power modes, and Balanced power mode is a practical default with a moderate power-use profile.
It’s not news that setting the power scheme to Best performance will increase energy consumption, but it may offer performance gains. Microsoft informs its users that Best performance prioritizes performance and Best power efficiency favors battery life, telling us that connecting to an outlet can help sustain performance without draining the battery quickly.
Browser Tabs and Extensions Can Make the Laptop Feel Slow
Your laptop may slow down for various reasons, but one of the most common culprits is having too many browser tabs and extensions open. Google Chrome Help explains that each tab your browser operates can consume memory and processing resources like other active browser tasks. So, too many tabs can significantly impact laptop performance.
Google Chrome also has a Memory Saver feature that can deactivate unused browser tabs to save your laptop’s memory. Memory Saver frees up RAM by deactivating unused tabs and preventing them from consuming as many resources in the background, letting you continue browsing at the performance speed you prefer.
Finally, unnecessary browser extensions or poorly optimized browser extensions also tax your laptop’s performance. Review your extensions and consider disabling or removing any you no longer need.
Check for Malware
We previously discussed startup apps, but how else might malware slow your computer? By consuming excess CPU and disk resources and making your processes more demanding at every turn, slowing it to a crawl. And the worst part? Windows Security covers malware scanning through Virus & threat protection without requiring a third-party antivirus.
Viruses, malware, and other threats can slow your computer, making your computer feel sluggish and unresponsive. And that’s where Windows Security can help. Windows Security includes an antivirus program called Microsoft Defender Antivirus to help protect you against viruses, malware, and other threats. It scans your device for malware and takes action on threats found.
Install Windows and Driver Updates
Windows Update can improve PC performance by installing updates that include fixes and performance improvements. Microsoft tells us it also includes optional Windows updates, which can include non-critical driver updates that may assist with your PC troubleshooting.
When updates are available for your laptop, you may see an Optional updates section with a list you can choose from. But don’t forget that Windows automatically installs many updates and driver updates to preserve system performance, while some optional driver updates may require manual selection. And while most Windows updates happen in the background, some updates require a system restart. So, after the update process is complete, and the system is restarted, Windows updates can help maintain system performance and stability.
Still Using Windows 10?
Microsoft Support confirmed that on October 14, 2025, standard Windows 10 support ended, meaning free software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes are no longer provided through normal support. From now on, eligible PCs can receive critical and important security updates through the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates program, with consumer ESU available through October 12, 2027. Importantly, Windows 10 Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education systems can still function after end of support, although regular support has ended unless the device is covered by ESU or a separate LTSC lifecycle.
Still, it’s reasonable to ask how much the end of Windows 10 affects your laptop’s performance, and I feel the need to point that out. Microsoft did not state a guaranteed immediate performance impact in the end-of-support announcement. For now, October 14, 2025 is a date to keep in mind for support and security, not an automatic performance cutoff. Your hardware, software, drivers, and workload will determine whether Windows 10 develops noticeable performance issues after its standard support expiration.
What If You Have a MacBook?
If you use a MacBook and notice a slowdown, several factors could be contributing to the issue. Apple Support recommends checking for insufficient startup disk space, memory pressure, incompatible applications, unused running applications, or disk errors.
The way to diagnose disk problems is to use Disk Utility from the Applications > Utilities folder to check your disk for errors (Activity Monitor can separately point you to processes using excessive CPU, memory, or disk resources).
Select your volumes and containers before the storage device, and click First Aid. Disk Utility will scan, and it can tell you whether repairs were successful. To proceed further, you may ask: what if Disk Utility can’t repair my Mac startup disk?
If Disk Utility finds what needs repair, you may need to restart your computer and repair it with Disk Utility from macOS Recovery. Start an Intel Mac, immediately after it starts up, and hold down Command + R until the startup screen appears. Now, on Apple silicon, hold the power button until startup options appear. Wait for the macOS Recovery window to appear.
Select Disk Utility. Disk Utility will open after just a few seconds. Within Disk Utility, choose View > Show All Devices and proceed through each volume, container, and finally the storage device. Select First Aid and follow the onscreen instructions. Depending on the amount of data and any issues, the process can take some time. Finally, after successful repair, you’ll see a message that Disk Utility has completed First Aid.
However, restarting after Disk Utility successfully repairs your disk might not be enough. Your Mac may still have resource-heavy applications causing slowdowns, or the culprits may find their way back to making your computer sluggish and burdened again. Apple Support recommends navigating to the Apple menu at the top left of your screen and selecting Shut Down. There, selecting Shut Down will be enough.
Anyway, be aware that if you use Microsoft 365, Office 2024, or Office 2021, their compatibility depends on your macOS version, and according to Microsoft, you should use one of the three most recent major versions of macOS. And for older macOS releases, you may continue using Office, but you may stop receiving updates including security updates.
When Should You Upgrade the Laptop Instead of Fixing It?
If you’ve tried everything to speed up your laptop and it’s still running slow or glitched, it may be time to upgrade the hardware. But before you do, consider whether your laptop really needs an upgrade or if the issues can be fixed.
Look at the potential causes, such as outdated software or too many background processes to manage. Otherwise, a resource issue, such as insufficient RAM or storage, might be causing the slowdown, or the problem could be hardware-related, like a faulty HDD.
Reflect: is your laptop’s hardware no longer meeting your demands, or is it time for a fresh install? If the former, consider upgrading the hardware. However, if your laptop hardware is still in good shape, an operating system or software-related fix might be in order.
When considering a hardware upgrade, weigh the cost of updating against the benefits. In some cases, upgrading to a more advanced system can result in newer hardware, improved performance, and longer software support. But keep in mind that replacing your laptop might make more sense in the long run.