When A Laptop Is Slow – What To Do? | Fix It Now

Guide / By

For a slow laptop, start with storage cleanup, malware scan, startup trims, updates, then check heat and hardware limits.

Nothing drags a day like a lagging machine. This guide gives a clean, step-by-step plan to speed up a sluggish notebook or desktop.

What To Do When Your Laptop Feels Slow: Quick Wins

Work through these in order.

Check Free Space And Clean Out Junk

Low storage slows everything. Open your system’s storage view and look for a cramped main drive. On Windows, run Storage settings and clear temporary files, large items, and old installers. On macOS, open System Settings > General > Storage and follow the recommendations.

Trim Startup And Background Apps

Too many apps launch at boot and stay resident. On Windows, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and use the Startup tab. Disable items you don’t need. On macOS, visit System Settings > General > Login Items and switch off unneeded entries.

Run A Malware Scan

Malware can hog CPU, disk, and memory. In Windows Security, run a Quick scan, then a Full scan if anything looks odd. On a Mac, stay on the latest release. If infections persist, use an offline scan.

Update The System And Drivers

System updates bring bug fixes and better hardware handling. In Windows, check Windows Update and grab current drivers from your vendor. On macOS, install the newest release your model supports. Reboot after updates.

Close Heavy Browser Tabs

Browsers spawn many processes. Press Shift+Esc inside Chrome to open its task manager and end the worst offenders. Fewer tabs and fewer extensions free RAM.

Diagnose The Biggest Bottleneck

Then find the part that’s holding you back.

CPU Pegged At 100%

Open Task Manager or Activity Monitor. Sort by CPU. If one app sits at the top, quit or update. If heat builds, fans spin up and the processor slows to stay safe. Keep vents clear and avoid soft surfaces.

Memory Runs Out

When RAM runs low, the system swaps to disk and stutters. Close big apps, heavy browser tabs, or virtual machines. If your model allows it, add memory. Many thin laptops have soldered RAM; trim your workload or move to a higher-memory model.

Disk At 100% Or Near Full

Drives slow down as they fill. Aim for healthy headroom. NVMe SSDs need space; old SATA drives crawl when crowded. Clear downloads, move videos to external storage, or archive projects. If disk time stays high, scan for malware or update that app.

Thermals And Dust

Heat is speed’s enemy. Dust or dried paste can cause throttling under load. Blow out vents with short bursts of compressed air. If you’re comfortable opening the chassis, clean the heatsink and fans.

Battery Saver And Power Modes

Power-saving modes trade speed for runtime. On Windows, pick Balanced or Best performance while plugged in. On macOS laptops, disable Low Power Mode when you need speed.

Platform-Specific Steps That Work

Windows: Speed Tricks That Are Safe

  • Storage Sense. Settings > System > Storage. Turn on Storage Sense and run Cleanup recommendations.
  • Apps You Don’t Use. Settings > Apps. Sort by size. Remove tools you no longer need.
  • Reset Store Cache. If Store apps hang, reset the cache.
wsreset.exe
  • System File Check. If Windows feels unstable, run these in an admin terminal. Reboot after they finish.
sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • Defender Offline. Use an offline scan when malware resists removal

macOS: Practical Tweaks

  • Storage Tips. System Settings > General > Storage shows large files, old DMGs, and app leftovers you can remove.
  • Safe Mode. Safe Mode loads only core parts and runs a check. If the Mac runs fine in this state, third-party items are likely at fault.
  • Login Items And Agents. Trim login items and background helpers you don’t need every day.

Keep It Clean For The Long Run

Good habits prevent slowdowns.

Weekly

  • Install pending updates.
  • Quit heavy apps you no longer need.
  • Empty the recycle bin or trash.

Monthly

  • Review startup items and clean cruft.
  • Archive or delete large downloads and installers.
  • Audit browser extensions.

Quarterly

  • Open the chassis (if possible) and clear dust.
  • Check drive health with vendor tools.
  • Re-paste an aging CPU if temps are high.

When Hardware Is The Limit

Some jobs outgrow older parts. If the steps above don’t help, weigh small upgrades against a full replacement.

RAM Upgrade

Moving from 8 GB to 16 GB removes a common memory wall for many users. If the memory is soldered, weigh a trade-in.

SSD Upgrade

Swapping a hard drive for an SSD is a big uplift. If you already have an SSD, a larger drive with more spare area can help sustained speed under load.

Cooling Fixes

New thermal paste and a clean airflow path restore headroom. A cooling pad can help thin laptops.

Full Replacement

When OS support ends or battery, RAM, and storage are all constrained, a newer model saves time.

Decision Guide: Fix Now Or Plan An Upgrade

Use this quick matrix to pick the next step based on what you see.

Symptom Likely Cause Fast Action
Disk near full; apps stall on load Low free space Run built-in storage cleanup; offload large files
Fans roar; speed drops under load Heat and throttling Clear vents; clean fans; re-paste if needed
Mouse lags while tab-switching RAM pressure Close tabs; remove extensions; add memory
Browser slow; one tab spikes CPU Problem page or script Use the browser task manager; end that tab
Random pop-ups; high disk or CPU Malware Run security scans; use offline scan if needed
Older model can’t update OS Ended support Plan a move to a supported release or new device

Why These Steps Work

Storage cleanup frees space and lowers background churn. Fewer startup apps cut idle CPU and RAM use. Security scans remove hidden tasks that fight your work. Updates bring fixes for drivers and storage handling. Heat control keeps the processor at full clocks. Together, they restore snappy response. Cooling keeps clocks steady, storage headroom speeds installs and saves, and fewer background tasks free memory for the work you care about. That mix brings smoother scrolls, faster launches, and fewer beachballs and hangs.

Handy Shortcuts And Paths

Windows

  • Task Manager: Ctrl + Shift + Esc, Startup tab.
  • Windows Update: Settings > Windows Update.
  • Windows Security: Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Open Windows Security.
  • Storage Sense: Settings > System > Storage.
  • Chrome task manager: Shift + Esc inside Chrome.

macOS

  • Activity Monitor: Applications > Utilities.
  • Storage: System Settings > General > Storage.
  • Login items: System Settings > General > Login Items.
  • Safe Mode: Hold Shift at boot on Intel; on Apple silicon, hold Power for Options, then continue with Shift.

Fixes For Common Scenarios

Computer Slows After A Big Update

Large updates re-index search, rebuild caches, and finish migration tasks in the background. Give the machine a full reboot, leave it idle for 20–30 minutes, then test again. If disk use sits high for hours, check the update history and apply any follow-up patches. Clear temporary files and previous install files to reclaim space.

Storage Is Full And Cleanups Don’t Stick

Target the bulky folders first: Downloads, Videos, and a crowded Desktop. Move raw videos, VMs, and archives to an external drive. In Windows, the built-in guide for freeing space lays out safe items to remove and shows cleanup tools that purge old update files and temp data. On a Mac, the Storage view surfaces large files and unneeded installers, and can offload seldom-used items to iCloud.

See the official guides: Free up drive space in Windows and Free up storage space on Mac.

One App Hogs CPU After Launch

Kill its background helpers, then relaunch. If it repeats, remove add-ons or plug-ins and grab the newest build. Graphic design suites and browsers often pile up extensions that chew through cycles. Test with extensions off to spot the worst ones.

Machine Feels Hot Even When Idle

Check for runaway processes, then check ventilation. Make sure the back and sides have airflow. A stand can improve intake on thin models that draw air from the bottom. If temps stay high, dust and dried paste are common on older units.

Mac Feels Slow Right After Boot

Safe Mode is a quick way to tell if third-party items are the cause. It loads only the core parts and runs checks on the disk. If speed returns in this state, remove login items or background agents and add them back one by one until the slowdown reappears. Apple’s steps for Safe Mode are here: Start up your Mac in safe mode.

Browser Tabs Keep Eating Memory

Use one ad-blocker, not three. Remove overlapping extensions. In Chrome, press Shift+Esc to find the tabs that gobble RAM and end the worst ones. Consider tab groups and the browser’s setting to discard tabs you haven’t touched in a while.

FAQ-Style Notes You’ll Want

Do I Need Third-Party Cleaners?

No. Built-in tools are safer and free. Use vendor tools for drive health only if they come from the maker of your SSD or laptop.

Will A Factory Reset Help?

Yes, when software rot is deep and scans come back clean. Back up first. Try a repair install on Windows first.

Is Antivirus Enough On Its Own?

It helps, but habits matter too: update fast, avoid unknown installers, and grant as few background rights as possible.