Why Is My Computer So Slow? Simple Fixes You Can Do Right Now
Typical Causes of a Sluggish Computer
First, let’s analyze what’s consuming your computer’s resources.
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Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
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Under the Processes tab, check CPU, Memory, and Disk usage.
👉 Tip: If any process is consuming unusually high CPU or memory, take note of the program name.
📌 If you see unknown or suspicious applications hogging resources, it could be malware.
Many programs automatically launch when your computer starts, slowing down boot time.
🔧 How to Disable Startup Programs:
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Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
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Go to the Startup tab.
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Identify programs with high startup impact.
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Right-click unnecessary ones and select Disable.
👉 Example: Tools like Adobe Reader or OneDrive may start automatically but aren’t always needed.
Malware infections can seriously impact performance.
🛡️ Recommended Action:
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Use trusted antivirus software like Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, or Avast.
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Perform a Full System Scan to detect and remove malware.
⚡ Pro Tip: Schedule regular scans weekly to prevent future issues.
Low disk space can slow down your system significantly.
🧹 How to Clean Up Disk Space:
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Open This PC and right-click the C: Drive.
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Select Properties → Disk Cleanup.
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Select the file types to delete (temporary files, system cache, Recycle Bin).
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Click Clean up system files for deeper cleaning.
📊 Aim to keep at least 15–20% of your hard drive free for optimal performance.
If your computer uses a mechanical Hard Disk Drive (HDD), file fragmentation can slow performance.
🔧 How to Defragment:
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Search for Defragment and Optimize Drives in Windows search.
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Select your HDD and click Optimize.
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Wait until the process is complete.
👉 Note: If you use an SSD (Solid State Drive), don’t defragment it. Instead, use TRIM optimization, which Windows handles automatically.
Outdated software or drivers cause inefficiency and security issues.
🛠️ Steps to Update:
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Go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → Check for updates.
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Update all important software (e.g., browsers, office tools).
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Update hardware drivers via Device Manager or the manufacturer’s website.
💡 Keeping your system up-to-date improves compatibility and speed.
Low RAM makes multitasking difficult.
📊 How to Check RAM Usage:
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Open Task Manager → Performance Tab → Look at RAM usage.
👉 If RAM is above 80% when idle, consider adding more RAM.
💡 Example: Upgrading from 4GB to 8GB or 16GB can vastly improve speed for everyday tasks.
Windows’ animations and visual effects look nice but consume resources.
🔧 How to Disable:
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Right-click This PC → Properties.
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Click Advanced system settings.
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Under Performance, click Settings.
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Select Adjust for best performance or manually disable visual effects.
👉 This makes the system faster, especially on older hardware.
Browsers are notorious for consuming memory when multiple tabs are open.
✅ Fix:
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Close unused tabs.
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Remove unnecessary browser extensions.
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Use extensions like The Great Suspender (for Chrome) to suspend unused tabs automatically.
💡 Tip: Use lightweight browsers like Firefox or Brave for better performance.
If nothing works and your computer is still slow, a fresh Windows installation can reset everything.
⚠️ Important: Back up your important data before proceeding.
🔧 How to Reinstall:
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Download the Windows Media Creation Tool.
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Create a bootable USB.
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Boot from USB and select Custom Installation.
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Follow the prompts to install Windows from scratch.
👉 After reinstalling, your computer will run like new.
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Perform regular maintenance (monthly disk cleanup, virus scans).
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Avoid downloading untrusted software.
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Use a solid-state drive (SSD) for much faster boot and load times.
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Keep system drivers updated.
