Is your laptop taking forever to start? Do you see the “spinning wheel” every time you open a browser? A slow computer can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you have work to finish.
The good news is that you don’t always need to buy more RAM or a new laptop. Often, Windows just needs a little “spring cleaning.” Based on my experience at Eifix, here are 5 simple ways to make your Windows laptop feel snappy aga
1. Disable Startup Programs
Many apps think they are important and try to start the moment you turn on your laptop. This slows down your boot time significantly.
How to fix it: Right-click the Start button and select Task Manager. Go to the Startup tab. Look for apps with “High impact” and disable the ones you don’t need immediately (like Spotify, Steam, or Cortana).
2. Uninstall Bloatware and Unused Apps
Most laptops come with “bloatware”—pre-installed apps from the manufacturer that you never use. These sit in the background and eat up your system’s resources.
How to fix it: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps. Look through the list and uninstall anything you haven’t used in the last 6 months. Your hard drive will thank you!
3. Change Your Power Plan to “Best Performance”
Windows is often set to “Balanced” or “Power Saver” mode to save battery. While this is good for travel, it limits your CPU speed.
How to fix it: Go to Settings > System > Power & Battery. Under Power mode, change it to Best Performance. You will notice an instant boost in speed, though it might drain your battery a bit faster.
4. Clean Up Your Disk (Storage Sense)
A nearly full hard drive is a slow hard drive. Windows needs free space to function properly. Temporary files and system cache can quickly take up gigabytes of space.
How to fix it: Search for “Storage Sense” in the Windows search bar and turn it on. This will automatically delete temporary files. Also, empty your Recycle Bin—it’s often holding more “trash” than you think!
5. Check for Windows Updates
It sounds basic, but many people ignore those update notifications. Microsoft frequently releases patches that fix bugs and improve system efficiency.
How to fix it: Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. After installing, make sure to restart your laptop to apply the changes.
Bonus Tip: Consider an SSD
If you have an older laptop with a mechanical Hard Drive (HDD), the single best thing you can do is upgrade to an SSD (Solid State Drive). It’s like giving your laptop a turbocharger!
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be a tech genius to keep your laptop running fast. Just by managing your startup apps and keeping your storage clean, you can save yourself hours of frustration.
Which of these tips helped you the most? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to share this with a friend who has a slow PC!
