Why Your Laptop Is Running Slow and How to Speed It Up

The Diagnosis

A slow laptop is almost always caused by one of these four problems:

1. Not enough memory (RAM) — Too many programs for your RAM to handle
2. Slow storage drive — Old hard drive (HDD) instead of SSD
3. Too many startup programs — Everything loads at boot
4. Background processes — Malware, bloatware, or forgotten apps

Let us diagnose and fix each.

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Step 1: Check What Is Using Your Resources

Windows

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Click "More Details."

Look at these columns:

• CPU — If any process is consistently > 80%, it is the culprit
• Memory — If usage is > 80%, you need more RAM or fewer programs
• Disk — If 100%, your drive is the bottleneck

Mac

Open Activity Monitor (Applications → Utilities). Same idea — sort by CPU, Memory, Disk to find the hog.

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Step 2: The Quick Fixes

Fix 1: Restart Your Computer

Not a joke. Restarting clears memory, closes background processes, and flushes temporary files. If it has been weeks since your last restart, this alone may fix the issue.

Fix 2: Close Browser Tabs

Each open tab uses memory. If you have 20+ tabs open in Chrome or Edge, that is probably the problem.

Check your browser's Task Manager:

• Chrome: Shift + Esc
• Edge: Shift + Esc

Close tabs you are not using. Use bookmarks for later.

Fix 3: Disable Startup Programs

Windows:

Task Manager → Startup tab
Disable everything that does not need to load at boot.
| Program | Keep? |
|---------|-------|
| Antivirus | ✅ Yes |
| Cloud sync (Dropbox, OneDrive) | ❌ No |
| Chat apps (Slack, Discord) | ❌ No |
| Printer software | ❌ No |
| Game launchers (Steam, Epic) | ❌ No |
| Adobe updater | ❌ No |

Mac:

System Settings → General → Login Items
Remove anything unnecessary.

Fix 4: Free Up Disk Space

A nearly-full drive slows everything down. Aim for at least 20% free space.

Windows:

Settings → System → Storage → Storage Sense (turn on)
Or: Clean up now → choose temporary files

Run Disk Cleanup: Search for "Disk Cleanup" → Select drive → Delete: Temporary files, Recycle Bin, Delivery Optimization Files.

Mac:

About This Mac → Storage → Manage
Recommendations:
- Store in iCloud (offloads photos/files)
- Optimize Storage (removes watched Apple TV shows)
- Empty Trash Automatically

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Step 3: The Upgrade That Makes the Biggest Difference

Replace HDD with SSD

If your laptop still has a spinning hard drive (HDD), this is the #1 speed improvement you can make.

Drive Type	Boot Time	App Loading	File Transfer
HDD (old)	45-90 seconds	5-15 seconds	80-160 MB/s
SATA SSD	15-25 seconds	1-3 seconds	500-600 MB/s
NVMe SSD	5-10 seconds	< 1 second	2,000-7,000 MB/s

How to check what you have:

• Windows: Task Manager → Performance → Disk —it says "SSD" or "HDD"
• Mac: About This Mac → System Report → SATA/SATA Express → look for "Solid State" or "Rotational"

Cost: $30-80 for a good SSD (500GB-1TB)

Installation: Follow a YouTube guide for your specific laptop model. Most allow SSD upgrades. Some newer ultrabooks have soldered storage — check first.

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Step 4: Add More RAM

If Task Manager shows > 80% memory usage consistently, you need more RAM.

Current RAM	Recommended For
4GB	Web browsing only — upgrade to 8GB minimum
8GB	Light productivity — upgrade to 16GB if you multitask
16GB	Good for most users — upgrade to 32GB for video editing/VMs
32GB+	Unlikely to be the bottleneck

Check if upgradable: Search "can I upgrade RAM in [your laptop model]." Many ultrabooks have soldered RAM — you need a new laptop.

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Step 5: Clean Up Software

Remove Bloatware

Laptops come with pre-installed software you will never use:

• Trial versions of antivirus
• Manufacturer utilities (Dell SupportAssist, Lenovo Vantage)
• Third-party apps (McAfee, Norton, Candy Crush)

Uninstall anything you do not recognize or have never used.

Check for Malware

Run a scan:

• Windows: Windows Security (built-in) → Quick scan
• Alternative: Malwarebytes Free — best for catching what Windows misses
• Mac: Malwarebytes for Mac

Reset or Reinstall Windows

If nothing above works, a fresh start often fixes years of accumulated slowdowns:

Settings → Update & Security → Recovery → Reset this PC
Choose "Keep my files" (preserves documents, removes apps)

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Maintenance Schedule

Frequency	Task
Weekly	Restart computer
Monthly	Close unused startup programs
Quarterly	Run Disk Cleanup, check for bloatware
Yearly	Open and clean dust from fans (if comfortable)

When to Give Up and Buy New

Your laptop may be too old to justify upgrades:

Symptom	Action
CPU is 5+ years old	Consider new laptop
RAM is soldered and < 8GB	Buy new
HDD failure signs (clicking, grinding)	Replace immediately or buy new
Battery lasts < 2 hours	Replace battery or new laptop
Cannot upgrade to Windows 11	Likely time for new laptop

Minimum specs for a decent 2026 experience: Intel i5/AMD Ryzen 5, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD — expect to spend $600-900.