A slow laptop feels like a dying laptop, but most of the time it isn’t. The usual causes are too many things running, a drive that’s nearly full, or one worn-out part that costs far less than a new machine. This guide goes from free fixes to cheap ones to the point where replacing it makes sense. Start at the top and stop when the problem’s gone.
Part 1: Free fixes (20 minutes)
Restart it properly
Closing the lid isn’t a restart. If your laptop hasn’t been restarted in weeks, choose Restart from the power menu, not Shut down. On Windows, a restart clears more than a shutdown does. This fixes a surprising number of “it’s just slow lately” complaints.
See what’s actually using it
On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. On a Mac, open Activity Monitor. Look at the CPU, Memory and Disk columns while the laptop feels slow.
- Memory near 90% or more: you’re running out of RAM. Close browser tabs and apps you aren’t using. If it’s always like this, skip ahead to the RAM upgrade.
- Disk at 100% for minutes at a time: common on laptops with an old hard drive. Skip ahead to the SSD upgrade.
- One program hogging the CPU: close it, update it or replace it.
Cut the startup list
Many apps set themselves to launch when the laptop turns on, then sit in the background all day. In Task Manager, open the Startup tab and disable anything you don’t need immediately. Chat apps, game launchers and update helpers are the usual suspects. They’ll still work when you open them yourself.
Free up storage
A drive that’s almost full slows everything down, because the system has no room to work. Aim to keep at least 15% free. Empty the Downloads folder and the recycle bin, uninstall programs and games you don’t use, and move old photos and videos to an external drive or cloud storage. Windows has a built-in cleaner under Settings, System, Storage.
Tame the browser
For many people, “my laptop is slow” really means “my browser is slow”. Remove extensions you don’t use, since each one runs on every page. Try living with ten tabs instead of sixty. If one site is always sluggish, test it in a different browser.
Check for unwanted software
Run a full scan with the built-in Windows Security app. Then look through your installed programs for anything you don’t remember installing, especially “PC cleaner” or “driver booster” tools. Those often cause the slowness they claim to fix.
Update, then check the power mode
Install pending system updates and restart. Then check the power setting. On Windows it’s under Settings, System, Power. A laptop stuck on its battery-saving mode will feel slow even when it’s plugged in.
Part 2: Cheap fixes
Clean out the dust
If the fan runs loudly and the laptop is hot to the touch, heat may be the problem. Dust blocks the vents, the laptop overheats, and it slows itself down to cope. A can of compressed air through the vents, with the laptop off, costs very little. Use it on a hard, flat surface too, never on a duvet.
Swap a hard drive for an SSD
If your laptop still has a spinning hard drive, replacing it with an SSD is the biggest improvement you can buy. Startup drops from minutes to seconds. A basic SSD is one of the cheapest parts in computing, and many repair shops will copy your files across for a small fee. Our storage explainer covers the types.
Add RAM, if you can
If Task Manager showed your memory full, more RAM fixes it directly. First check that your laptop has a free slot or replaceable RAM. Search your exact model number with the words “RAM upgrade”. If the RAM is soldered, this option is closed. Memory prices are high right now, as we explained in Why Are RAM Prices So High?, but one stick still costs much less than a laptop.
Start fresh
If the hardware is sound but years of installed software have piled up, resetting the system gives you a clean start. Back up your files first. On Windows, go to Settings, System, Recovery, and choose Reset this PC. It takes an hour or so and often makes an old laptop feel new.
Part 3: When to stop fixing
Sometimes the honest answer is that the laptop has reached the end. Signs that it’s time:
- It can’t run a supported operating system. Windows 10 no longer gets security updates, and many older laptops can’t officially run Windows 11.
- The storage is slow and soldered. A Windows laptop with 64GB or 128GB of eMMC storage can’t be upgraded and never has enough room for updates.
- It has 4GB of soldered RAM. No amount of cleanup makes that comfortable today.
- The repair costs more than half the price of a comparable replacement.
- Several things are failing at once, such as the battery, the hinge and the keyboard.
If only the battery has faded, replace the battery, not the laptop. Our battery Q&A explains how to check its health.
The bottom line
Work through the free list before you spend anything. If your laptop has a hard drive or too little RAM and it can be upgraded, that’s a small bill for years of extra life. If it’s sealed, soldered and out of support, put the repair money toward a replacement instead, and read how much laptop you actually need before you shop.
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