This guide covers twelve proven fixes — starting with the simplest, completely free changes you can make in under five minutes, through to the hardware upgrades that can genuinely transform an older machine into something that feels new again. You do not need to be technical. Every step is explained clearly, with exact instructions for where to find each setting.
Whether your laptop is running Windows 10, Windows 11, or macOS, the principles are the same — and where the steps differ between systems, we will cover both.
What this guide covers:
- Why laptops slow down — the real reasons, not just "it's old"
- How to diagnose which specific problem is causing your slowdown
- 10 completely free fixes you can apply today
- 2 low-cost hardware upgrades that make a dramatic difference
- A quick-reference summary table of every fix
- Answers to the most common laptop speed questions
By the end of this guide, you will have a clear picture of what is slowing your laptop down — and a step-by-step path to fixing it.
Why Laptops Slow Down — The Real Reasons
Understanding why your laptop is slow makes it much easier to fix the right problem, rather than trying everything randomly and hoping something works. There are five core reasons laptops slow down over time.
1. Too many programs running at once
Every program running in the background — whether you are actively using it or not — consumes a portion of your CPU (processing power) and RAM (working memory). When you first bought your laptop, you had perhaps five or six programs installed. Over years of use, that number grows to fifty, sixty, or more — many of which launch automatically every time you start the machine and sit quietly in the background consuming resources you did not know were being used.
2. A full or nearly full hard drive
Your operating system uses free space on your hard drive as a kind of overflow memory — a technique called virtual memory or paging. When your storage is nearly full, this process slows dramatically because the system has nowhere to write temporary data. Most experts recommend keeping at least 15 to 20 percent of your total storage free at all times to maintain performance.
3. An older spinning hard drive (HDD) instead of an SSD
This is one of the most significant hardware-level causes of slowness that many people overlook. Laptops made before 2018 often came with traditional spinning hard disk drives (HDDs). These physically rotate to read and write data — a mechanical process that is dramatically slower than the solid-state drives (SSDs) that have become standard in more recent machines. Replacing an HDD with an SSD is often the single biggest performance upgrade you can make to an older laptop.
4. Malware or unwanted software
Malicious software — viruses, adware, and various forms of unwanted programs — frequently runs in the background consuming CPU and RAM without your knowledge. Some types of malware are specifically designed to use your device's processing power for their own purposes while remaining invisible to you. A laptop that has suddenly become slow for no obvious reason should always be scanned for malware.
5. Outdated software and fragmented data
Operating systems and drivers that are out of date can cause inefficiency. Equally, on older HDD-based laptops, data fragmentation — where files are scattered across the drive in disconnected pieces — slows down how quickly the system can read them. Regular maintenance addresses both of these issues.
How to Diagnose What Is Actually Slowing Your Laptop Down
Before applying fixes at random, spend two minutes with your built-in task manager. This shows you exactly what is using your CPU, RAM, and storage right now — and immediately points you toward the problem.
HOW TO OPEN TASK MANAGER — WINDOWS
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc simultaneously
- Click "More details" if you see the simple view
- Click the "CPU" column header to sort by highest usage
- Note any process using more than 20–30% CPU consistently
- Click the "Memory" column to see RAM usage
- Click the "Disk" column — if your disk is at 100% consistently, this is a key cause of slowness
HOW TO CHECK ACTIVITY MONITOR — MAC
- Press Cmd + Space and type "Activity Monitor"
- Press Enter to open it
- Click the "CPU" tab and sort by % CPU (highest first)
- Click the "Memory" tab and check the Memory Pressure graph at the bottom — green is fine, yellow means pressure, red means your Mac needs more RAM
What you find here tells you where to focus first. If CPU is maxed out, start with Fix 1 (startup programs) and Fix 7 (malware). If disk is at 100%, start with Fix 2 (temp files) and Fix 4 (storage space). If memory is the bottleneck, Fix 12 (RAM) becomes the priority.
Fix 1: Disable Startup Programs
Disable Startup Programs
Difficulty: Easy | Cost: Free | Impact: High — especially on boot speed
Every time your laptop starts, a queue of programs launches automatically — many of which you never asked to run on startup and rarely use during your session. Each one adds to your boot time and consumes background resources.
How to fix on Windows 10 / 11:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
- Click the "Startup" tab (or "Startup apps" in Windows 11)
- Look at the "Startup impact" column — sort by High impact first
- Right-click any program you do not need at startup and select "Disable"
- Good candidates to disable: Spotify, Skype, Teams (if not used daily), Discord, OneDrive (if not actively syncing), Adobe Creative Cloud, iTunes helper, Zoom
How to fix on Mac:
- Go to System Settings → General → Login Items
- Under "Open at Login", remove anything you do not need immediately on startup using the minus (—) button
⚠️ Important note
Disabling a startup program does not uninstall it or stop it from working — it simply means it will not launch automatically. You can still open it manually whenever you need it. If you are unsure what a process is, search its name online before disabling it.
Most users find 5 to 12 programs running unnecessarily at startup. Disabling these alone can reduce boot time by 30 to 60 seconds and free up noticeable RAM from the moment the machine starts.
Fix 2: Clear Temporary Files and Junk Data
Clear Temporary Files and Junk Data
Difficulty: Easy | Cost: Free | Impact: Medium to High — particularly if storage is near full
Windows and macOS accumulate temporary files constantly — cached data from websites, leftover installation files, update logs, and application debris that builds up over months and years. On a laptop that has never been cleaned, this can amount to several gigabytes of data that serves no useful purpose.
Windows — using built-in Disk Cleanup:
- Press Windows key + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter
- Select your C: drive and click OK
- Tick all boxes — Temporary files, Recycle Bin, Thumbnails, etc.
- Click "Clean up system files" at the bottom for a deeper clean
- Tick Windows Update Cleanup if it appears — this can reclaim several gigabytes alone
- Click OK and confirm deletion
Windows 11 — using Storage Sense:
- Go to Settings → System → Storage
- Click "Temporary files"
- Tick the items you want to remove and click "Remove files"
- Enable Storage Sense to do this automatically on a schedule going forward
Mac — clearing system caches:
- Press Cmd + Shift + G in Finder and go to ~/Library/Caches
- Select all folders inside and move them to Trash
- Empty the Trash
- Restart your Mac — it will rebuild necessary caches fresh
Fix 3: Change Your Power Plan to High Performance
Change Power Settings to High Performance
Difficulty: Very Easy | Cost: Free | Impact: Medium — especially noticeable on older hardware
Windows laptops have power plans that govern how aggressively the CPU performs. The default "Balanced" plan throttles CPU speed to save battery — which is sensible when you are on the go, but actively slows performance when you are plugged in and working.
How to change on Windows:
- Press Windows key + R, type powercfg.cpl, press Enter
- Select "High performance" — if you do not see it, click "Show additional plans"
- Alternatively: search "Power & sleep settings" → click "Additional power settings"
💡 When to use which plan
- Plugged in at your desk: Use High Performance — maximum speed, battery life irrelevant
- On battery away from desk: Switch back to Balanced to preserve battery
- Windows 11: Use the Power Mode slider in Settings → System → Power — set to "Best performance" when plugged in
Fix 4: Free Up Storage Space
Free Up Storage Space
Difficulty: Easy | Cost: Free | Impact: High if you are running below 15% free storage
As mentioned earlier, your operating system needs free storage to function efficiently. If your drive is 85 percent full or more, performance degrades noticeably. The goal is to get below 80 percent usage — ideally well below.
What to look for and remove:
- Downloads folder: Most people's Downloads folder is a graveyard of installers, PDFs, and files that were opened once and forgotten. Sort by size and delete anything you do not need.
- Old video files: Videos are the largest common files on most personal laptops. Move ones you want to keep to an external drive or cloud storage and delete the originals.
- Duplicate files: Photos especially tend to accumulate in duplicates. A free tool like Duplicate Cleaner (Windows) can identify and remove these safely.
- Uninstalled programs: Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac) and remove anything you have not used in the past six months.
- Old backups and restore points: Windows sometimes keeps old system restore points that consume significant space. Disk Cleanup → Clean up system files → Previous Windows installations.
Move files to cloud storage:
Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox all allow you to store files in the cloud and access them on demand — removing them from local storage. Enabling "Files on demand" (OneDrive) or "Stream files" (Google Drive) keeps files accessible without occupying local storage space.
Fix 5: Keep Windows and Drivers Updated
Keep Windows and Drivers Updated
Difficulty: Easy | Cost: Free | Impact: Medium — critical for stability and security
Outdated operating system versions and device drivers cause inefficiency, compatibility issues, and in some cases significant performance problems. Windows updates include performance improvements, bug fixes, and security patches — all of which contribute to a smoother experience.
Update Windows:
- Go to Settings → Windows Update
- Click "Check for updates"
- Install all available updates and restart when prompted
Update drivers (especially graphics):
- Press Windows key + X → select Device Manager
- Expand "Display adapters"
- Right-click your graphics driver → "Update driver" → Search automatically
- Also check: Network adapters, Sound cards, and your laptop manufacturer's website for specific driver updates
⚠️ Schedule updates outside working hours
Windows Update can consume significant CPU and disk resources while downloading and installing. Go to Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Active hours, and set your working hours so updates only run outside that window.
Fix 6: Clean Up Your Browser
Clean Up Your Browser
Difficulty: Easy | Cost: Free | Impact: High if your browser is your primary work tool
For most people working from home, the browser is open for the majority of the working day. A browser loaded with dozens of extensions, thousands of cached files, and thirty open tabs can consume as much RAM as any other application on your system — sometimes more.
Clear your browser cache:
CHROME / EDGE
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete
- Set time range to "All time"
- Tick: Cached images and files, Cookies (optional), Browsing history
- Click "Clear data"
Audit your extensions:
Go to your browser's Extensions page (chrome://extensions in Chrome) and remove anything you do not actively use. Each extension loads with the browser and consumes memory. Ten unused extensions can add 200–400MB of unnecessary RAM usage.
Manage your tabs:
If you routinely have 20 or more tabs open, consider a tab manager extension like OneTab, which collapses all open tabs into a list and frees their memory instantly. The difference in RAM usage can be several gigabytes.
Check which browser you are using:
In 2026, Chrome remains the most popular browser but is also one of the most RAM-hungry. Microsoft Edge (built on the same Chromium base as Chrome) has better memory management and is worth testing if Chrome feels slow on your machine. Firefox is also a strong performer on lower-RAM laptops.
Fix 7: Scan for Malware
Run a Full Malware Scan
Difficulty: Easy | Cost: Free | Impact: High if malware is present
Malware is a frequently overlooked cause of laptop slowdowns. Certain types of unwanted software — particularly adware, cryptominers, and spyware — run continuously in the background, consuming CPU and RAM while remaining deliberately hidden from casual observation.
Using Windows Security (built-in, free):
- Search for "Windows Security" in the Start menu
- Click "Virus & threat protection"
- Click "Scan options"
- Select "Full scan" and click "Scan now"
- This will take 30 to 90 minutes — run it overnight or during a break
Run Malwarebytes as a second opinion:
Malwarebytes (free version) is excellent at catching adware and potentially unwanted programs that Windows Security sometimes misses. Download it from malwarebytes.com, install, run a scan, and remove anything flagged. You do not need to keep it installed after the scan.
Signs malware may be causing your slowdown
- Laptop became slow suddenly with no obvious cause
- CPU usage is high in Task Manager but no recognisable program is using it
- Browser redirects to unexpected pages or shows excessive adverts
- New toolbars or extensions appeared in your browser that you did not install
- Fan runs constantly even when the laptop is idle
Fix 8: Turn Off Visual Effects and Animations
Reduce Visual Effects and Animations
Difficulty: Easy | Cost: Free | Impact: Medium — most noticeable on older or lower-spec hardware
Windows uses your GPU (graphics processor) to render various animations and visual effects — window fade-ins, shadow effects, smooth scrolling animations, and transparency effects. On lower-spec hardware, these consume processing resources that could be used for actual work.
How to reduce visual effects on Windows:
- Press Windows key + R, type sysdm.cpl, press Enter
- Go to the Advanced tab → click Settings under Performance
- Select "Adjust for best performance" to disable all effects
- Or select "Custom" and keep only: Show thumbnails instead of icons and Smooth edges of screen fonts
- Click Apply and OK
On Mac:
- Go to System Settings → Accessibility → Display
- Enable "Reduce motion"
- Enable "Reduce transparency"
These changes make the interface look slightly simpler, but the performance gain on older hardware can be meaningful — particularly in how quickly windows open and applications respond.
Fix 9: Update or Reinstall Problematic Drivers
Update or Reinstall Problematic Drivers
Difficulty: Moderate | Cost: Free | Impact: Medium to High if a driver is causing the issue
A corrupted or outdated driver — particularly a graphics or storage driver — can cause persistent slowdowns, stuttering, and high disk or CPU usage. This is especially common after a major Windows update that installs a generic driver over a working manufacturer-specific one.
Identify problematic drivers:
- Open Device Manager (Windows key + X → Device Manager)
- Look for any devices with a yellow warning triangle — these have driver issues
- Right-click → Update driver or Uninstall device (then restart — Windows will reinstall a fresh version)
Get manufacturer drivers:
Visit your laptop manufacturer's website (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, etc.) and search for your specific model. Download and install the latest drivers for storage, graphics, chipset, and Wi-Fi. Manufacturer drivers are almost always better than the generic versions Windows downloads automatically.
Fix 10: Restart Your Laptop Regularly
Restart Regularly — Not Just Sleep
Difficulty: Trivial | Cost: Free | Impact: Medium — accumulated RAM usage clears completely on restart
Many people put their laptop to sleep every night rather than shutting it down — and go days or weeks without a proper restart. Sleep preserves your open applications and picks up exactly where you left off, but it does not clear RAM. Memory leaks — where applications slowly consume more and more RAM over time — accumulate across days of continuous use.
A complete restart clears all RAM, applies pending updates, restarts background services cleanly, and generally returns the system to a fresh state. For most people, restarting every one to two days is sufficient to prevent gradual performance degradation.
💡 Windows Fast Startup — a common source of confusion
Windows has a feature called Fast Startup that makes the machine boot quickly — but technically it is closer to a deep sleep than a full shutdown. To perform a complete restart that clears everything properly, use Start → Restart rather than Start → Shut Down when Fast Startup is enabled. The Restart option always performs a full reboot.
Fix 11: Upgrade to an SSD (Solid State Drive)
Replace Your HDD with an SSD
Difficulty: Moderate (hardware) | Cost: £40–£80 for the drive | Impact: Transformative — the single biggest performance upgrade for older laptops
If your laptop was manufactured before 2019 and you have never upgraded the storage, there is a very good chance it is running on a traditional spinning hard disk drive (HDD). The performance difference between an HDD and a modern SSD is not incremental — it is dramatic.
| Task | Typical HDD | Typical SSD |
|---|---|---|
| Windows boot time | 60–120 seconds | 8–15 seconds |
| Application launch (Office) | 8–15 seconds | 1–3 seconds |
| File copy (10GB) | 3–5 minutes | 30–60 seconds |
| Browser startup | 5–10 seconds | 1–2 seconds |
| General responsiveness | Delayed, laggy | Near-instant |
How to check if your laptop has an HDD:
- Press Windows key + R, type dfrgui, press Enter
- Look at the Media type column — it will say either Hard disk drive or Solid state drive
Choosing an SSD:
For most laptops, a 2.5-inch SATA SSD is the correct type. Popular reliable options include the Samsung 870 EVO, Crucial MX500, and Kingston A400. A 500GB drive costs approximately £40–£55 in 2026 and provides ample space for most users.
⚠️ Check before buying
Not all laptops have a replaceable storage drive — particularly ultra-thin models from 2020 onwards, where the SSD is soldered directly to the motherboard. Search your exact laptop model + "SSD upgrade" online to confirm whether the upgrade is possible before purchasing anything.
Fix 12: Upgrade Your RAM
Upgrade Your RAM (Working Memory)
Difficulty: Moderate (hardware) | Cost: £25–£60 | Impact: High if you regularly run multiple applications or browser tabs
RAM (Random Access Memory) is your laptop's working memory — the space where active applications, open browser tabs, and current tasks live while you are using them. When RAM fills up, your system starts using virtual memory on the hard drive as overflow, which is dramatically slower.
If Task Manager shows your memory usage consistently above 80 percent during normal work, a RAM upgrade will make a meaningful difference. In 2026, 8GB is the practical minimum for comfortable multitasking, and 16GB provides comfortable headroom for most professional workflows.
How to check your current RAM:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
- Click the Performance tab → Memory
- You will see your total RAM, current usage, and — importantly — the number of slots used and available
⚠️ Many modern laptops have soldered RAM
Like SSDs, RAM in many newer laptops is soldered directly to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded. This is particularly common in thin and light laptops released after 2020. Always check your specific model before purchasing RAM. Search your laptop model + "RAM upgrade possible" on Crucial's website, which has a free compatibility checker.
Quick Reference: All 12 Fixes at a Glance
| Fix | Cost | Difficulty | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Disable startup programs | Free | Easy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 2. Clear temporary files | Free | Easy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 3. High performance power plan | Free | Very Easy | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| 4. Free up storage space | Free | Easy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 5. Update Windows and drivers | Free | Easy | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| 6. Clean up browser | Free | Easy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 7. Malware scan | Free | Easy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (if malware present) |
| 8. Reduce visual effects | Free | Easy | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| 9. Update drivers | Free | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| 10. Restart regularly | Free | Trivial | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| 11. SSD upgrade | £40–£80 | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 12. RAM upgrade | £25–£60 | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (if RAM-limited) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my laptop so slow all of a sudden?
Sudden slowdowns are most commonly caused by a Windows update running in the background, a hard drive that has become nearly full, a new program that added itself to startup, or malware. Open Task Manager immediately and look at which process is consuming the most CPU or disk — that will point you to the cause within seconds.
How can I speed up my laptop for free?
Start with the ten free fixes in this guide — particularly disabling startup programs, clearing temporary files, and cleaning up your browser. These three alone account for the majority of fixable slowdowns and cost nothing. Most users see a noticeable improvement after applying all ten free fixes.
Does upgrading to an SSD really make that much difference?
Yes — and it is not close. For a laptop running on a traditional spinning hard drive, replacing it with an SSD is transformative. Boot times drop from over a minute to under fifteen seconds. Applications open nearly instantly. The laptop feels like a completely different machine. It is the single highest-impact upgrade available for older hardware.
Should I use a third-party speed-up tool or PC cleaner?
In most cases, no. The majority of commercially advertised "PC cleaning" tools — CCleaner, PC Optimizer Pro, and similar — offer at best the same functionality as Windows' built-in tools, and at worst they include their own unwanted software. Everything covered in this guide can be done with tools already on your machine.
My laptop is 8 years old — is it worth upgrading or should I replace it?
If the processor (CPU) is from Intel's 7th generation or earlier (pre-2017), the cost of hardware upgrades may not justify the result. However, if the machine has a reasonable processor and simply needs an SSD and more RAM, upgrading can extend its useful life by three to five years for a total cost of £60–£130 — significantly cheaper than a new laptop.
Also read: Signs Your Device Needs Professional Attention (Before It's Too Late) — know when a DIY fix is enough and when to call in support.
Your 30-Minute Laptop Speed Fix Plan
Minutes 1–5: Diagnose
- Open Task Manager and check CPU, Memory, and Disk columns
- Note which processes are highest — this tells you where to focus
Minutes 5–15: Quick wins
- Disable high-impact startup programs in the Startup tab
- Switch power plan to High Performance (if plugged in)
- Close all unnecessary browser tabs and remove unused extensions
Minutes 15–25: Clean up
- Run Disk Cleanup and clear temporary files
- Check your storage — if below 20% free, delete or move large files
- Schedule a full malware scan to run overnight
Minutes 25–30: Plan the rest
- Check whether your laptop has an HDD or SSD
- If HDD — research whether your model supports an SSD upgrade
- Check RAM usage during a typical busy session and note whether it regularly exceeds 80%
After 30 minutes of applying these steps, most users notice an immediate improvement in how their laptop feels to use — even before any hardware changes.
If you have worked through the steps in this guide and your laptop is still not performing as it should — or if you would rather have someone else handle the diagnosis and fixes — that is exactly what Workvera is here for. We provide hands-on device care and digital advisory services that get your technology working properly, without the jargon and without the pressure to buy something new.
Is your laptop still running slow?
Workvera provides practical device care and digital advisory sessions — remote or in-person. We diagnose the real problem and fix it, without upselling you on new hardware you do not need.
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