10 Things That Slow Down Your PC (and How to Fix Them)

Key findings

Check unnecessary startup items in Settings to speed up your PC.
Upgrade the storage volume or use Storage Sense to free up space.
Use Task Manager to close CPU-intensive apps and check for corrupted files.

Is your once-speedy PC now slower than a snail? Don't worry! You're not alone. Many Windows users have complained about a slow computer that just can't keep up with your busy workflow. The good news is that you don't have to settle for a subpar experience. In this post, we'll help you identify the biggest culprits that are secretly slowing down your PC and help you get back to having a smooth digital experience.

There are many factors that can affect your PC's performance. We'll cover the most common ones and get your sluggish PC up and running in no time.

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10 Unnecessary startup elements

If you have multiple apps set to automatically open when your device starts, they will affect your PC's performance. This is a common phenomenon when you install multiple third-party apps and stick with their default settings. While this practice is quite useful for VPN apps, cloud storage services, and your favorite email apps, you will need to stop the behavior for other apps. Follow the steps below to find out which apps are configured to automatically start and how to stop it.

Press the Windows + I Key to open Settings.
Choose Apps from the sidebar and open Start-up.
Here you can look at the apps and services and their impact on the device startup. Disable the unnecessary ones and you're good to go.

9 Low device memory

Insufficient device storage is another major factor that affects your PC's performance. The easiest way to fix the problem is to upgrade your PC's SSD to a higher storage volume. However, if you don't want to change the SSD yet, Storage Sense can help you free up PC storage space in a snap. Follow the steps below to perform a cleanup.

Go to Windows Settings. Choose system from the sidebar and open the storage Menu.
Activate Memory senseand then click to enter and proceed to further steps.
You can configure Storage Sense to handle automatic content cleanup and cloud storage. For example, you can automatically delete files from the Recycle Bin after a certain number of days and periodically delete items from your Downloads folder. Choose Run Storage Sense now and get your valuable storage space back.

An image showing a person holding a Samsung 990 Pro SSD.

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Your SSD can benefit from a little cleanup

8 A faulty app with abnormally high CPU usage

If a faulty app is causing abnormally high CPU usage in the background, it can cause your PC to lag. You need to use the default Task Manager on Windows to find such culprits and terminate their activities immediately.

Right-click on the Windows button in the taskbar. Open Task Manager.
Check the apps and processes currently running on your PC.
Select a task with a high CPU percentage. Click Complete task above.
Repeat the same for other tasks that consume high bandwidth.

Restart your PC and enjoy the performance improvements.

7 Corrupted system files

If your Windows PC has corrupted system files, it can cause performance issues. You need to use the sfc /scannow command in the default Windows Command Prompt app. The command will scan all protected system files and replace corrupted files with a cached copy located in the System32 folder.

Press the Windows keysearch for Command prompt. Run it as administrator.
Enter the command down and press Input.
```
sfc /scannow
```
The verification process may take a while to complete. Please restart your computer when finished.

6 Fake files from unofficial sources

Do you often download media and apps from unofficial sources on the internet? They might infect your PC with viruses or corrupted and fake files. These files can slow down your PC's performance within minutes. You need to remove such files to improve your PC's speed.

Although there are dozens of third-party antivirus solutions available, default Windows security is still the best choice for most people.

Press the Windows keysearch for Windows Security and open it.
Choose Virus and threat protection from the sidebar. Open Scan options.
Click the radio button next to Full scan and click on Scan now.

It may take a while for a full PC scan to run. You can minimize the app window and continue with your workflow while it processes.

5 Outdated system drivers

Outdated drivers on your PC can cause compatibility and stability issues. This ultimately leads to poor performance on your computer. Updating drivers to the latest version can resolve issues and ensure that your PC runs smoothly and efficiently. First, you need to visit the manufacturer's website, download the necessary drivers, and install them from the Device Manager menu. Follow the steps below to make changes.

Right-click on the Windows key and open the Device Manager.
Scroll down and right-click on the device. Select Update driver.
Click Automatically search for driversand the app should find and install the latest drivers on your device.

How to update drivers in Windows 11

If you notice that a peripheral device connected to your PC or a part of your PC is not working properly, you need to update the drivers.

4 Outdated apps

Windows developers regularly release app updates to add new features and fix bugs. Outdated apps can slow down your PC. It's time to install the latest updates from the Microsoft Store.

Start the Microsoft Store on Windows. Select Downloads from the sidebar.
Click Stay informed and install pending app updates.

If you have a laptop with an ARM CPU, make sure to prefer native apps over x86 apps to ensure a smooth and glitch-free experience.

3 Overheating

Your PC's CPU is often the hottest component in the case and without an adequate cooling system, you may experience thermal throttling. Since the component slows down at lower temperatures, this condition results in lower performance. You can learn more about how to lower CPU temperature and avoid this slowdown in our separate guide.

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2 Old PC parts

Sometimes your old Windows PC just needs a hardware boost to improve performance. You can check and note your PC specs, including CPU, GPU, RAM, and SSD storage. If these components are generations behind, you should consider upgrading for a better experience.

1 Outdated Windows version

An outdated version of the Windows operating system can also cause performance issues on your PC. Here's how to install the latest Windows update on your PC.

Go to Windows Settings and select WindowsUpdate from the sidebar.
Download and install the latest Windows update.

Digital sins that affect your PC

These are just some of the tried and tested methods to get your slow PC back in shape. Bookmark this post and read it again when your PC starts behaving like it's stuck in the 90s. Apart from these built-in methods, you can also use third-party apps like HWiNFO and O&O AppBuster to monitor your PC's performance and identify and eliminate any bloated features. Check out our separate list if you want to explore more such apps on your Windows PC.