{"id":69832,"date":"2026-11-10T19:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=69832"},"modified":"2026-11-09T16:58:11","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T11:28:11","slug":"why-is-my-computer-so-slow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is My Computer So Slow? 15 Fixes for Windows 11 and Mac"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Why is my computer so slow? In most cases it is one of five things: too many apps starting with the computer, a nearly full drive, too little memory for what you have open, pending updates, or unwanted software running in the background. Old hardware, especially a spinning hard drive, is the next suspect. This guide shows you how to find which one it is in two minutes, then walks through 15 fixes for Windows 11 and Mac, starting with the free and fast ones.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow-speed-light-trails.jpg\" alt=\"Red and orange light trails curving along a winding road at night, seen from above\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> Restart the computer, then open Task Manager (<code>Ctrl + Shift + Esc<\/code>) on Windows or Activity Monitor on a Mac to see what is using the CPU, memory and disk. Turn off startup apps you don&#8217;t need, free up at least 10-15% of your drive, install updates and run a malware scan. If it is still slow with only a browser open, the computer probably needs more RAM or an SSD.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af33c78b422c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af33c78b422c\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#First_find_out_what_is_slowing_your_computer_down\" >First, find out what is slowing your computer down<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#On_Windows_11_Task_Manager\" >On Windows 11: Task Manager<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#On_a_Mac_Activity_Monitor\" >On a Mac: Activity Monitor<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#What_the_results_mean\" >What the results mean<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#15_fixes_to_speed_up_your_computer\" >15 fixes to speed up your computer<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#1_Restart_properly\" >1. Restart properly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#2_Close_apps_and_browser_tabs_you_arent_using\" >2. Close apps and browser tabs you aren&#8217;t using<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#3_Turn_off_startup_apps_Windows\" >3. Turn off startup apps (Windows)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#4_Remove_login_items_Mac\" >4. Remove login items (Mac)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#5_Install_system_and_app_updates\" >5. Install system and app updates<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#6_Free_up_disk_space\" >6. Free up disk space<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#7_Uninstall_apps_you_no_longer_use\" >7. Uninstall apps you no longer use<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#8_Scan_for_malware_and_unwanted_software\" >8. Scan for malware and unwanted software<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#9_Stop_apps_running_in_the_background_Windows\" >9. Stop apps running in the background (Windows)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#10_Turn_down_visual_effects_Windows\" >10. Turn down visual effects (Windows)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#11_Check_your_power_mode\" >11. Check your power mode<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#12_Optimize_your_drives_Windows\" >12. Optimize your drives (Windows)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#13_Check_for_overheating_and_dust\" >13. Check for overheating and dust<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#14_Add_more_RAM_or_switch_to_an_SSD\" >14. Add more RAM or switch to an SSD<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#15_Reset_or_reinstall_as_a_last_resort\" >15. Reset or reinstall as a last resort<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#Which_fix_should_you_try_first\" >Which fix should you try first?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#Frequently_asked_questions\" >Frequently asked questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#Why_is_my_computer_so_slow_all_of_a_sudden\" >Why is my computer so slow all of a sudden?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#How_do_I_speed_up_my_computer_for_free\" >How do I speed up my computer for free?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#Do_PC_cleaner_apps_make_a_computer_faster\" >Do PC cleaner apps make a computer faster?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#How_much_RAM_do_I_need_so_my_computer_isnt_slow\" >How much RAM do I need so my computer isn&#8217;t slow?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/why-is-my-computer-so-slow\/#Will_resetting_Windows_11_make_my_PC_faster\" >Will resetting Windows 11 make my PC faster?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First_find_out_what_is_slowing_your_computer_down\"><\/span>First, find out what is slowing your computer down<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Guessing wastes time. Both Windows and macOS have a built-in tool that shows exactly what is using your computer&#8217;s resources.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"On_Windows_11_Task_Manager\"><\/span>On Windows 11: Task Manager<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Press <code>Ctrl + Shift + Esc<\/code> to open Task Manager.<\/li>\n<li>On the <strong>Processes<\/strong> page, click the <strong>CPU<\/strong>, <strong>Memory<\/strong> or <strong>Disk<\/strong> column header to sort by the biggest user.<\/li>\n<li>Open the <strong>Performance<\/strong> page to see overall use. If Memory sits above about 90% or Disk sits at 100% for minutes at a time, you have found your bottleneck.<\/li>\n<li>Check the <strong>Startup apps<\/strong> page to see how many programs launch when Windows starts.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"On_a_Mac_Activity_Monitor\"><\/span>On a Mac: Activity Monitor<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Open Finder, go to <strong>Applications &gt; Utilities<\/strong> and open <strong>Activity Monitor<\/strong> (or press <code>Command + Space<\/code> and type its name).<\/li>\n<li>Click the <strong>CPU<\/strong> tab and sort by <strong>% CPU<\/strong> to find apps working hard.<\/li>\n<li>Click the <strong>Memory<\/strong> tab and look at the <strong>Memory Pressure<\/strong> graph at the bottom. Green is fine; yellow or red means your Mac is short of memory for what you have open.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>Disk<\/strong> tab shows which apps are reading and writing the most.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_the_results_mean\"><\/span>What the results mean<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>What you see<\/th>\n<th>Likely cause<\/th>\n<th>Fixes to try first<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>One app using lots of CPU<\/td>\n<td>A stuck app, a heavy browser tab or malware<\/td>\n<td>1, 2, 8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Memory near full or pressure yellow\/red<\/td>\n<td>Too many apps and tabs, or too little RAM<\/td>\n<td>2, 3, 4, 14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Disk at 100% (Windows)<\/td>\n<td>Updates, indexing, a full drive or an old hard drive<\/td>\n<td>5, 6, 12, 14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Slow only right after switching on<\/td>\n<td>Too many startup apps<\/td>\n<td>3, 4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Everything slow, nothing obvious<\/td>\n<td>Ageing hardware or a cluttered system<\/td>\n<td>6, 7, 14, 15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"15_fixes_to_speed_up_your_computer\"><\/span>15 fixes to speed up your computer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Work through these in order. The first eight are free, take a few minutes and solve most problems.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Restart_properly\"><\/span>1. Restart properly<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A restart clears memory, ends stuck background processes and finishes installing updates. On Windows, choose <strong>Start &gt; Power &gt; Restart<\/strong> (a restart is more thorough than Shut down, which can use Fast Startup). On a Mac, choose <strong>Apple menu &gt; Restart<\/strong>. If you only ever close the lid, your computer may not have restarted in weeks.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Close_apps_and_browser_tabs_you_arent_using\"><\/span>2. Close apps and browser tabs you aren&#8217;t using<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Every open app and tab uses memory. Browsers are often the biggest user on the whole system, and some extensions run all the time in the background. Close tabs you don&#8217;t need, quit apps rather than just minimising them (on a Mac, <code>Command + Q<\/code>), and remove browser extensions you don&#8217;t recognise or no longer use.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Turn_off_startup_apps_Windows\"><\/span>3. Turn off startup apps (Windows)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Many programs add themselves to startup when you install them. Open Task Manager, go to <strong>Startup apps<\/strong>, right-click anything you don&#8217;t need right after switching on (chat apps, game launchers, updaters) and choose <strong>Disable<\/strong>. The <strong>Startup impact<\/strong> column shows which ones matter most. Don&#8217;t disable your antivirus or drivers for touchpads and audio.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Remove_login_items_Mac\"><\/span>4. Remove login items (Mac)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Go to <strong>Apple menu &gt; System Settings &gt; General &gt; Login Items<\/strong> (called Login Items &amp; Extensions in newer versions of macOS). Select apps under <strong>Open at Login<\/strong> that you don&#8217;t need and click the minus button. You can also switch off apps listed under <strong>Allow in the Background<\/strong>, but only if you know what they do.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Install_system_and_app_updates\"><\/span>5. Install system and app updates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Updates fix bugs that cause slowdowns and often improve performance. On Windows, go to <strong>Settings &gt; Windows Update &gt; Check for updates<\/strong>, and look under <strong>Advanced options &gt; Optional updates<\/strong> for driver updates. On a Mac, go to <strong>System Settings &gt; General &gt; Software Update<\/strong>. Update your browser and other heavy apps too. Note that a large update downloading in the background can itself make the computer slow for a while, so let it finish.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Free_up_disk_space\"><\/span>6. Free up disk space<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A nearly full drive slows everything down, because the system needs free space for temporary files and memory swapping. Aim to keep at least 10-15% free.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Windows 11:<\/strong> go to <strong>Settings &gt; System &gt; Storage<\/strong>. Open <strong>Temporary files<\/strong> to remove them, and turn on <strong>Storage Sense<\/strong> to clean up automatically. Empty the Recycle Bin and move big videos and photos to an external drive or cloud storage.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mac:<\/strong> go to <strong>Apple menu &gt; System Settings &gt; General &gt; Storage<\/strong> and follow the recommendations, such as storing files in iCloud and emptying the Trash automatically. Our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-clear-cache-on-mac\/\">clearing cache on a Mac<\/a> shows how to do it safely.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Uninstall_apps_you_no_longer_use\"><\/span>7. Uninstall apps you no longer use<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Unused apps take up space and some run background services. On Windows, go to <strong>Settings &gt; Apps &gt; Installed apps<\/strong>, click the three dots next to an app and choose <strong>Uninstall<\/strong>. Remove trial software that came with the PC as well. On a Mac, drag unwanted apps from the Applications folder to the Trash (use the app&#8217;s own uninstaller if it has one).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Scan_for_malware_and_unwanted_software\"><\/span>8. Scan for malware and unwanted software<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Malware, adware and crypto-mining programs can quietly use your CPU around the clock. On Windows 11, go to <strong>Settings &gt; Privacy &amp; security &gt; Windows Security &gt; Virus &amp; threat protection<\/strong> and run a <strong>Quick scan<\/strong>; run a full scan if you are suspicious. On a Mac, keep macOS updated, remove any app you don&#8217;t remember installing, and only install software from the App Store or developers you trust. You don&#8217;t need to buy a &#8220;cleaner&#8221; app to do any of this.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Stop_apps_running_in_the_background_Windows\"><\/span>9. Stop apps running in the background (Windows)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Some apps keep working after you close them. In <strong>Settings &gt; Apps &gt; Installed apps<\/strong>, click the three dots next to an app, choose <strong>Advanced options<\/strong> and set <strong>Background app permissions<\/strong> to <strong>Never<\/strong>, where that option is offered. While you are in Settings, turn off notifications you don&#8217;t need in <strong>Settings &gt; System &gt; Notifications<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Turn_down_visual_effects_Windows\"><\/span>10. Turn down visual effects (Windows)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Animations, shadows and transparency look nice but use resources on older or low-end PCs. Search the Start menu for <strong>Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows<\/strong>, open the <strong>Visual Effects<\/strong> tab and pick <strong>Adjust for best performance<\/strong>. You can turn smooth fonts back on afterwards if text looks rough.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_Check_your_power_mode\"><\/span>11. Check your power mode<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Battery-saving settings slow the processor down on purpose. On Windows 11, go to <strong>Settings &gt; System &gt; Power &amp; battery &gt; Power mode<\/strong> and choose <strong>Best performance<\/strong> when the laptop is plugged in (it uses more power). On a MacBook, check that <strong>Low Power Mode<\/strong> is off in <strong>System Settings &gt; Battery<\/strong> when you need full speed.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"12_Optimize_your_drives_Windows\"><\/span>12. Optimize your drives (Windows)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Search Start for <strong>Defragment and Optimize Drives<\/strong>, select your drive and click <strong>Optimize<\/strong>. Windows defragments hard drives and sends a maintenance command (TRIM) to SSDs, and it normally does this on a schedule, so check that the schedule is on. On a Mac, if you suspect disk problems, open <strong>Disk Utility<\/strong> and run <strong>First Aid<\/strong> on your startup disk.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"13_Check_for_overheating_and_dust\"><\/span>13. Check for overheating and dust<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When a computer gets too hot, the processor slows itself down to protect itself. If the fans are loud and the case feels hot, make sure the vents aren&#8217;t blocked (laptops on beds and sofas are a classic cause) and clean dust from the vents with short bursts of compressed air while the computer is off. On a desktop PC, check that all fans spin.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"14_Add_more_RAM_or_switch_to_an_SSD\"><\/span>14. Add more RAM or switch to an SSD<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If your computer is still slow with only a browser and one or two apps open, the hardware is the limit. Two upgrades make the biggest difference:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Swap a hard drive for an SSD.<\/strong> If Task Manager&#8217;s Performance page lists your drive as HDD, moving to an SSD is the single biggest speed-up for an older PC: faster start-up, apps that open in seconds and no more 100% disk.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Add RAM.<\/strong> For everyday use with many browser tabs, 8 GB is the practical minimum and 16 GB is comfortable. Check whether your model has a free or replaceable memory slot first; many thin laptops have memory soldered to the board.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Macs with Apple silicon (M-series chips) and most recent Macs can&#8217;t be upgraded after purchase, so free up memory and storage instead, or plan for more RAM when you next buy. For desktops, our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/10\/make-pc-smoother-faster\/\">keeping your PC running smoothly<\/a> covers regular maintenance too.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"15_Reset_or_reinstall_as_a_last_resort\"><\/span>15. Reset or reinstall as a last resort<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If years of installs and leftovers have built up, a fresh start can make an old computer feel new. Back up your files first.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Windows 11:<\/strong> go to <strong>Settings &gt; System &gt; Recovery &gt; Reset this PC<\/strong>. You can keep your personal files or remove everything. Our step-by-step guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/10\/how-to-factory-reset-windows-11\/\">factory resetting Windows 11<\/a> explains each option.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mac:<\/strong> recent Macs can erase all content and settings from System Settings, after which you set the Mac up again and restore your files from a Time Machine backup or iCloud. Follow Apple&#8217;s own instructions for your model on <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/102664\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple Support<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_fix_should_you_try_first\"><\/span>Which fix should you try first?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Slow when you switch it on:<\/strong> fixes 1, 3 and 4.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Slow with lots of tabs open:<\/strong> fixes 2 and 14 (more RAM).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Got slow suddenly:<\/strong> fixes 5 and 8. A sudden slowdown often follows an update in progress or new unwanted software.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Slowly got worse over years:<\/strong> fixes 6, 7, 14 and, if needed, 15.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Laptop slow on battery only:<\/strong> fix 11.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more Windows tweaks, see our list of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/11\/run-computer-faster\/\">ways to make your computer run faster<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_asked_questions\"><\/span>Frequently asked questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_computer_so_slow_all_of_a_sudden\"><\/span>Why is my computer so slow all of a sudden?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A sudden slowdown usually has a single cause: an update installing in the background, a new app or browser extension, malware, or a drive that has just filled up. Open Task Manager or Activity Monitor to see what is using the most CPU, memory or disk, and deal with that first.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_speed_up_my_computer_for_free\"><\/span>How do I speed up my computer for free?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Restart it, disable startup apps, close unused tabs and apps, free up disk space, uninstall software you don&#8217;t use, install updates and run the built-in malware scan. Together these fix most slow computers without spending anything.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_PC_cleaner_apps_make_a_computer_faster\"><\/span>Do PC cleaner apps make a computer faster?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Windows and macOS already include the tools you need to remove temporary files and manage startup apps. Paid cleaners rarely add much, and some bundle unwanted software of their own. Use the built-in tools first.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_RAM_do_I_need_so_my_computer_isnt_slow\"><\/span>How much RAM do I need so my computer isn&#8217;t slow?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For web browsing, email and office apps, 8 GB is the minimum that feels smooth today, and 16 GB is better if you keep many tabs open or edit photos. Video editing and gaming need more.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_resetting_Windows_11_make_my_PC_faster\"><\/span>Will resetting Windows 11 make my PC faster?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Often, yes, if the slowdown comes from years of leftover software and settings. It won&#8217;t help if the hardware itself is the limit, such as an old hard drive or too little RAM. Try the other fixes first and back up before you reset.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why is my computer so slow? Find the real cause in Task Manager or Activity Monitor, then work through 15 fixes for Windows 11 and Mac, from startup apps and storage to RAM, SSDs and a reset.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":69831,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-computers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69832"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69832\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70046,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69832\/revisions\/70046"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69831"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}