Last updated 2025-08-27

9 Quick Wins to Speed Up a Slow PC

No registry hacks. No risky cleaners. Just proven steps from Windows settings and good hygiene.

TL;DR

Disable heavy startup apps, uninstall bloat, turn on Storage Sense, run a malware scan, keep drivers and Windows updated, switch power mode, and keep at least 15 percent free disk space. If the PC still feels slow, consider a RAM or SSD upgrade.

The 9 wins

Trim startup apps. Open Task Manager - Startup apps and disable High impact items you do not need.
Uninstall bloat. Settings - Apps - Installed apps, sort by size or install date.
Turn on Storage Sense. Automatically clear temporary files and old downloads.
Scan for malware. Run Windows Security - Virus and threat protection - Quick scan. Use Full scan if you suspect infection.
Update Windows and drivers. Check Windows Update and install GPU and chipset drivers from your vendor.
Choose the right power mode. On AC, use Best performance or Balanced. On battery, use Balanced.
Close tab overload. Too many browser tabs and extensions can eat RAM and CPU.
Restart weekly. Reboot clears memory leaks and applies updates.
Keep 15 percent free space. Low disk space slows everything.

Deeper fixes if you need them

Update BIOS or firmware if your vendor recommends it for stability.
Check for thermal throttling and dust build-up that can cause slowdowns.
If you run virtual machines, ensure features like Memory Integrity or VMP match your needs.

When to upgrade hardware

If your PC has less than 8 GB RAM, upgrading to 16 GB can help with multitasking. Moving from a hard drive to an SSD is the biggest single speed boost for older PCs.

References

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