7 Ways to Fix a Slow Windows 10 Computer

A lagging and slow Windows experience ruins your productivity. Eventually, it makes you dislike using your PC, as the simplest tasks can feel like a chore, and the different programs can become unresponsive frequently. Some people will try to blame the hardware and encourage you to upgrade or replace your PC, but the source of the slow performance can be just a simple software issue. To prevent wasting time when Windows 10 gets slow, there are many useful methods that can bolster your system’s performance.

We have covered all the best ways to speed up your Windows 10 experience, from issues caused by malware and viruses to limited storage and system software complications. Even if your PC isn’t noticeably slow, you can use these methods to improve its efficiency while using resource-intensive or graphically demanding applications. Make sure to try all seven methods before checking your PC’s hardware or visiting a computer repair shop.

1. Check for Viruses or Malware

First and foremost, you should suspect that there are viruses or other kinds of malware on your PC. These malicious programs are designed to cause disruption to your system, and the result of malware activity can be sluggish performance and unresponsive programs. Thankfully, Windows 10 includes antivirus protection capabilities, so you don’t need to install third-party protection software. Follow these simple steps to run a malware scan manually and identify problematic files related to potential malware programs:

1. Press the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of the screen. Then, go to “Settings,” displayed by a gear icon.
2. On the opened page, select the “Update and Security” option.
   
   
3. Now, from the left menu, click on “Windows Security”.
   
   
4. In the “Protection areas” section, click on “Virus & threat protection.”
   
   
5. A new page will open, and you can see the time of the last scan and threats found. Under “Current threats,” select the “Quick scan” button.
   
   
6. Wait for the scan to be completed. If Windows 10 finds any threats, they will be deleted automatically, or Windows will ask you to remove the files.

Note: You can also do a more thorough scan that can take longer than one hour. To do this, simply click on the “Scan options,” then select “Full Scan,” and finally, at the bottom of the page, click “Scan Now”.

2. Reboot Computer

Like many other electronic devices, a reboot can solve all sorts of issues, including slow performance. Computers usually store data while the user is working with various programs. So, if you have been using your Windows PC for a while, there is probably a large amount of cache stored on the RAM, and as a result, Windows 10 gets slow. Rebooting or restarting the Windows PC will clear the cache, and you can do it very easily:

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard. Hover your mouse cursor on the turn-off symbol.
2. Select “Power” and then click on the “Restart” button. The PC will reboot automatically, and you can see if the issue is solved.

3. Close background Apps

In any device, if there are many apps running simultaneously in the background, the system will have a hard time processing all the data. Therefore, to have a satisfying performance, it’s best to close all the apps that you don’t actually use. Task Manager is a very beneficial Windows feature that keeps track of the resource consumption of the different apps and processes. Follow these steps to find and close background apps:

1. To open Task Manager, press Esc, Shift, and Ctrl keys on your keyboard at the same time.
2. Now, you can see all the active tasks in real time. Mostly when the CPU or Memory is full or nearly full, there will be a slowdown. Click “CPU” or “Memory” to order the programs based on their resource consumption.
   
   
3. Find one or more programs that you don’t actually use but are running in the background. Click on them and then click on the “End Task” button in the bottom right corner of the page. This will close the program and free up the resources to speed up the necessary programs and the overall system.
   
   Note: There are some programs that will run as soon as you start up your Windows PC. Some of these apps may not have any use for you and can slow down your computer right away. To avoid the hassle of closing these apps through Task Manager every time there is a slowdown, you can disable Startup Apps.
4. Press the Windows button on your keyboard and click on the “Settings” in the bottom left corner of the screen.
5. Select “Apps”.
   
   
6. Now, from the left menu, click on “Startup”.
   
   
7. On the new page you can see all the Startup Apps. Toggle off any of the apps that you don’t use from the get-go.
   
   

4. Delete Temporary Files

Having low free space on your PC can slow down the performance. The temporary files created while using the PC like the web documents can take up a lot of space. To free up the space taken by temporary files you are able to utilize the Disk Cleanup tool on your Windows PC.

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type “Disk Cleanup.” Then click the “Open” button.
   
   
2. Choose the disk drive that your Windows is installed on it. Then select “Ok”.
3. On the new page, choose the files that you want to delete by enabling the checkmark next to it. Choosing these options usually frees up more space
   • Downloaded Program Files
   • Temporary Internet Files
   • Temporary Files
   • Thumbnails

After that, click “OK,” and the files will be deleted.

Note: You can install and use more advanced third-party apps instead of Disk Cleanup such as CCleaner and BleachBit, to delete unnecessary files with enhanced functionality and system optimization tools.

5. Check for Updates

Some system software errors and bugs can lower the performance of your PC. That’s why Microsoft provides many updates to Windows 10 every few weeks and some of them are quite major. These updates clean up many of the issues your system might encounter in order to increase system stability and speed. So, if there is an update that you’re putting off, it’s time to install it.

1. To check if there is a new update for your Windows 10 simply press the Windows key on your keyboard and select the “Settings” displayed by a gear symbol.
2. Now, select “Update & Security”.
   
   
3. On the new page, you should click on the “Check for update” button. Wait for Windows to finish checking for updates.
   
   
4. If there are any new updates, Windows 10 will download and install it automatically. This can take a few minutes.
5. You should restart your PC to complete the update installation. Click on “Restart now.”
    

6. Update the drivers

Device drivers are software components that connect the hardware to the operating system. If there is a corrupted or outdated driver in your system, it can cause all sorts of problems, such as slowdowns. Windows 10 usually will automatically install the latest updates for all the devices on your computer, but sometimes you need to manually update them. Here are the steps to update the drivers:

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type “Device Manager.” Click on the “Open” or simply press Enter.
2. Now, you can see all the categories of the devices you have installed on your computer. Click on the “>” symbol next to any of them that you think might be the source of the problem.
   
   
3. After that, all of the devices in that category will be visible. Right-click on any of the devices and then select “Update driver.”
   
   
4. Windows will ask how you want to search for drivers. Click on “Search automatically for drivers”.
5. Windows 10 will check the drivers, and if there is a new update, install it on your PC. If the drivers are already updated, you will see the message “The best drivers for your device are already installed.”
   
   

Note: Preferably check all of the devices on your computer and repeat the steps until you make sure that all the drivers are updated.

7. Run a System Maintenance

Windows automatically runs maintenance on a daily basis when you are not active on your PC. The maintenance includes software updates, system diagnostics, and security scanning. However, when Windows 10 gets slow while you are working with your PC, then you can manually run maintenance and let the operating system detect and solve any issues for you. In order to start the maintenance, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows button on your keyboard and type “Control Panel.” Then press “Enter” on the keyboard.
2. On the Control Panel, click on “System and Security”.
   
   
3. Next, select the top option, “Security and Maintenance”.
   
   
4. Now click on the “Maintenance” section to open up the details.
   
   

Finally, select “Start Maintenance” under the “Automatic Maintenance” section. This will start the process, and Windows will fix all the issues it can detect on your system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Windows 10 get slower over time?

Yes, if you use your PC for a considerable amount of time, Windows will create many temporary files that take up space and result in slowdowns. Furthermore, the longer you use your Windows PC without updating it, the higher the chance of encountering system errors and experiencing low performance.

How to get rid of programs that are slowing down Windows 10?

Using method 3, you can open Task Manager and find programs that use a lot of system resources. Then, you can close these programs to improve system performance. In addition, you should close the unnecessary Startup Apps that open and run in the background when you turn on your system.

Why is Windows 10 slow after an update?

Some Windows updates can cause driver compatibility issues that slow down your PC. Moreover, after an update, Windows usually runs background processes to finish installing new features. To fix this issue, you can try updating the drivers and rebooting your PC.

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Maya Reynolds

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