There are a number of reasons why a laptop may be running slowly or may take longer than usual to start up.
If your laptop is taking a long time to boot up or is running slowly, the following suggestions on this page may help to improve your device's performance.
- Try restarting your laptop, to allow the device to close any unnecessary programs and allow any updates to be activated.
- Check that your laptop is not running an excessive number of programs:
- Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del and selecting 'Task Manager'.
- Open the 'Processes' tab. Select any apps or processes that are not needed and close them.
- Check that your laptop is not automatically opening any unnecessary programs when starting up:
- In the Task Manager, select the 'Startup' tab and disable any programs that you do not want to start automatically.
- Regularly delete any unnecessary files and uninstall programs that are no longer needed. Also, make sure to regularly clear your Recycle Bin.
- If your Internet browser is running slowly, remove any unnecessary browser plugins or extensions through your browser's settings.
- Make sure that your laptop is clean to prevent it from overheating. Clean any accumulated dust or debris from the laptop's vents with a soft cloth. Also, ensure that the vents are not obstructed during use.
- Avoid using the laptop on a soft or uneven surface, as this can block the air vents and prevent air circulation, causing the unit to overheat. Preferably, you should always set up your laptop on a hard, even surface.
- Check for and install any available Windows updates:
- Open your Settings and select 'Updates & Security'.
- Select 'Windows Update' from the menu on the left.
- Click 'Check for updates' and then install any available updates.
- Regularly defragment your drive:
- Through the Start menu, open the 'Windows Administrative Tools' folder and select 'Defragment and Optimize Drives'.
- Select the drive you want to optimise from the list and click 'Optimize'.
- Adjust your power options:
- In your Settings, navigate to your System settings and select 'Power & Sleep' from the menu on the left of the screen.
- On the right side of this screen, select 'Additional power settings'.
- In the Power Options window that opens, click 'Create a power plan' from the options on the left.
- Select the 'High performance' plan, then click 'Next', then click 'Create'.
- Disable fast startup:
- In your Windows Settings, navigate to your System settings and select 'Power & Sleep' from the menu on the left of the screen.
- On the right side of this screen, select 'Additional power settings'.
- In the Power Options window that opens, click 'Choose what the power button does' from the options on the left.
- In the section titled 'Shutdown settings', untick 'Turn on fast startup (recommended)' and then click 'Save changes'.
- Make sure your laptop has up-to-date antivirus software installed. Regularly scan your laptop for viruses or malware that may compromise your laptop's performance.
- Further advice about how to update your drivers is available on Microsoft's website here.
- Further advice about how to reinstall Windows 10 is available on Microsoft's website here.
- Some further suggestions about how you can improve your laptop's performance are available on Microsoft's website here.
