How to Speed Up a Slow Laptop: 10 Fixes by Buhii.net

A slow laptop is frustrating, but it’s rarely a mystery. Most slowdowns come from a handful of fixable causes: too many programs launching at startup, a nearly full drive, outdated software, or background processes hogging memory. This guide from Buhii.net covers 10 ways to speed up a slow laptop, ordered from quick and free to hardware upgrades, with steps for both Windows and Mac.

The Buhii.net team gathered the fixes below from official Windows and Mac support guidance and ordered them from quickest to most involved.

First, Find Out What’s Slowing It Down

Before changing anything, spend two minutes looking at what your laptop is actually doing. Guessing wastes time.

• Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. On the Processes page, sort by CPU, Memory and Disk to see which apps are using the most resources. The Performance page shows overall usage, and the Disk section tells you whether you have an SSD or an older HDD.
• Mac: Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities. Check the CPU tab for busy processes, then the Memory tab. Apple’s guide to viewing memory usage in Activity Monitor explains the Memory Pressure graph, which shows how efficiently your memory is keeping up with demand.

Match what you see to the likely fix:

Symptom	Likely cause	Start with fix
Slow to boot, fine afterward	Too many startup apps	2
Slows down over the day	Background apps, browser tabs	1, 4
Everything lags, drive almost full	Low storage	3
Fans loud, performance drops under load	Heat or power settings	8
Pop-ups, unknown programs, high CPU at idle	Malware or unwanted software	6
Slow despite all of the above	Aging hard drive or too little RAM	10

10 Fixes to Speed Up a Slow Laptop

1. Restart it properly

Many people close the lid for weeks at a time. Over time, memory fills with leftover processes and apps that never fully quit. A restart clears them. On Windows, choose Restart rather than Shut down, because the Fast Startup feature means a normal shutdown doesn’t fully reset the system. Microsoft’s own list of tips to improve PC performance in Windows includes closing unused apps and restarting when performance drops.

2. Cut down startup apps

Chat apps, cloud sync tools, game launchers and updaters often set themselves to launch every time you sign in.

• Windows: Go to Settings > Apps > Startup, or the Startup apps page in Task Manager, and turn off anything you don’t need running right away.
• Mac: Go to System Settings > General > Login Items (called Login Items & Extensions in recent macOS versions) and remove unneeded apps.

You can still open these apps whenever you want. They just won’t slow down every boot.

3. Free up storage space

A nearly full drive leaves little room for temporary files, updates and the virtual memory your system relies on when RAM runs short.

• Windows: Open Settings > System > Storage and turn on Storage Sense to clear temporary files automatically, then review the cleanup recommendations.
• Mac: Apple’s guide to freeing up storage space walks through System Settings > General > Storage, where you can see recommendations and what’s using space.

Also empty the Downloads folder, remove old installers, and move large photo and video libraries to an external drive or cloud storage.

4. Tame your browser

For many people, the browser is the heaviest app on the machine. Each open tab and extension uses memory.

• Close tabs you’re keeping “for later” and save them as bookmarks or in a reading list instead.
• Remove extensions you don’t use. Extensions can also read your browsing, so fewer is better for privacy as well.
• Turn on memory-saving features: Memory Saver in Chrome or sleeping tabs in Edge.
• Press Shift + Esc in Chrome or Edge to open the browser’s own task manager and see which tab or extension is the culprit.

5. Install updates

Operating system updates often include performance and stability fixes as well as security patches. CISA’s guidance to update your software recommends turning on automatic updates wherever possible.

• Windows: Settings > Windows Update. Also check your laptop maker’s support app for driver and firmware updates.
• Mac: System Settings > General > Software Update.

6. Scan for malware and unwanted software

Malware, adware and aggressive “optimizer” programs can quietly consume resources. On Windows, open Windows Security, select Virus & threat protection, and run a scan. On both platforms, look through your installed apps for anything you don’t remember installing, especially toolbars, fake antivirus products and system cleaners, and remove them. Unused and unfamiliar apps are also a privacy risk, which our online privacy checklist explains in more detail.

7. Uninstall programs you don’t use

New laptops often ship with trial software and manufacturer extras, and the rest of us accumulate apps over the years. Many run background services or updaters even when you never open them.

• Windows: Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Sort by size or install date and remove what you don’t need.
• Mac: Drag unused apps from the Applications folder to the Trash, and use the app’s own uninstaller if it has one.

8. Check power settings and heat

Laptops deliberately slow down to save battery or when they get too hot.

• Power mode: On Windows, go to Settings > System > Power & battery and choose a higher-performance mode when plugged in. Microsoft notes that this drains the battery faster and can make the laptop run warmer. On a Mac, make sure Low Power Mode isn’t switched on in Battery settings when you need full speed.
• Heat: Use the laptop on a hard, flat surface rather than a bed or cushion that blocks the vents. If the fans sound loud all the time, dust buildup may be restricting airflow. Cleaning the vents with compressed air, or having a technician do it, can help.

9. Reduce visual effects and background sync

Animations, transparency effects and constant file syncing all use resources.

• Windows: Search for “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows” and choose Adjust for best performance, or select just the effects you want to keep.
• Mac: In System Settings > Accessibility > Display, turn on Reduce motion and Reduce transparency.
• Sync tools: Pause OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive or iCloud syncing during heavy work such as video calls or large exports, and resume afterward.

10. Upgrade to an SSD or add more RAM

If Task Manager shows your drive is an HDD, replacing it with a solid-state drive is usually the single biggest improvement you can make to an older laptop. Adding RAM helps if you constantly run out of memory with your normal workload.

Before buying anything, check your model’s specifications on the manufacturer’s website. Many thin laptops, and all Macs with Apple silicon, have memory soldered to the board, so it can’t be upgraded later.

Tip: Before any major change, back up your files. If you’re planning a reset or reinstall, make sure your logins are saved in a password manager so you don’t get locked out of accounts afterward.

If Nothing Else Works: Reset

When a laptop is still slow after all ten fixes, a clean start can clear years of accumulated clutter. Windows offers Reset this PC under Settings > System > Recovery, with an option to keep your personal files. On a Mac, you can reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery. Back up first either way, and reinstall only the apps you actually use.

Simple Maintenance Schedule

Task	How often
Restart the laptop	Weekly
Install operating system and app updates	As soon as they’re offered
Close unused tabs and review extensions	Weekly
Clear Downloads and temporary files	Monthly
Review startup apps and installed programs	Every few months
Clean vents and check for dust	Once or twice a year

Final Thoughts

Most slow laptops don’t need replacing. They need a restart, fewer startup apps, more free storage and up-to-date software. Work through the fixes in order, check Task Manager or Activity Monitor after each one, and stop when your laptop feels responsive again. If the fixes run out, an SSD or memory upgrade can give an older machine a real second life.

For more hands-on help with your devices, browse our technology and digital life guides, or visit Buhii.net for more practical reads.