A new laptop can feel slow when background setup, updates, heavy startup apps, or low-power modes hold back performance.
You unboxed it, hit the power button, and the first hour felt like wading through syrup. New machines often run a bunch of one-time tasks: driver installs, feature updates, app provisioning, and account sync. Add conservative power settings and a few loud apps that auto-launch, and even fresh hardware can drag. The good news: you can pinpoint the snag and get snappy performance without guesswork.
Quick Checks That Save Time
These fast checks solve a big chunk of “brand-new but slow” complaints. Work through them in order; most take under a minute.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fast Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cursor lag, slow clicks after sign-in | Many startup apps firing at once | Disable non-essentials in Task Manager → Startup apps |
| Fan spikes while doing nothing | First-day indexing, updates, or driver setup | Let it idle plugged in for 20–30 minutes to finish setup |
| Choppy scrolling on battery | Battery saver or low power mode | Switch Power mode to Balanced or Best performance |
| Stutter on Wi-Fi calls | Cloud sync and background installers | Pause OneDrive/Drive sync during meetings |
| Apps take ages to open | HDD or small SSD nearly full | Free 15–20% space; move bulky files to external or cloud |
| Trackpad feels laggy | Out-of-date touchpad or chipset drivers | Install driver updates from the vendor support app |
| Battery drains fast while idle | High refresh rate, background sync, or RGB tools | Lower refresh on battery; pause sync; close lighting apps |
| Updates stuck for ages | Big feature update or driver bundle | Run Windows Update while plugged in; reboot once |
Windows includes step-by-step guidance in its tips to improve PC performance. Keep that page handy while you tune settings here.
Why Is My Brand-New Laptop So Slow? Real Causes
New doesn’t always mean tuned. Vendors preload trial apps, RGB tools, and updaters. Windows also needs time to build its search index and finish feature updates. Meanwhile, power settings favor battery life, which can cap CPU speed and dim the display refresh rate. Any one of these can make a fast chip feel sluggish until you tidy things up.
Background Setup Loads The First Hours
Right after first sign-in, the system pulls drivers, language packs, store apps, and security updates. Search indexing scans files so search is instant later. During this window, disk and CPU spike, then settle. If you let the laptop sit plugged in, lid open, it completes faster and won’t compete with your tasks.
Startup Apps Grab Resources
Many OEM apps set themselves to run at boot. Mix in cloud tools, messengers, game launchers, and your tray fills up. Each item steals a slice of CPU and memory before you even open a browser. Use Task Manager’s Startup tab to turn off anything you don’t need at sign-in, and launch those apps only when you actually use them.
Power Mode Can Throttle Speed
On battery, many laptops default to a power-saving profile that holds back turbo speeds and limits background activity. If the machine feels slow only when unplugged, raise the Power mode slider. Microsoft explains the steps here: change the power mode.
Storage Type And Free Space Matter
SSD models feel fast when there’s breathing room. When free space drops under about 15%, write speeds fall off and updates struggle. If your model shipped with a small SSD, move big media to an external drive, clean the Downloads folder, and turn on Storage Sense to clear temp files. If the laptop uses a hard drive for bulk storage, keep active projects on the SSD side.
Thermals And Dust Are Rare On Day One
Brand-new laptops shouldn’t have dust, but heat can still slow a thin chassis. Place the machine on a hard surface, not a blanket, so the vents breathe. During long installs or game patches, keep the lid open and the rear edge clear so fans can do their job.
Step-By-Step: Make A New Windows Laptop Feel Fast
Set aside ten minutes. Plug in. Then walk through these actions.
1) Finish Updates Calmly
Open Settings → Windows Update and run pending downloads. Reboot when asked. This clears long queues that hog disk and CPU in the background.
2) Trim Startup Noise
Open Task Manager → Startup apps and turn off launchers, trials, and tools you don’t rely on daily. Leave touchpad, audio, and display helpers alone. Windows shows the startup impact so you can pick easy wins first.
3) Pick A Sensible Power Mode
On AC, use Best performance. On battery, Balanced suits most people; switch to Best performance when rendering, compiling, or editing. If your screen supports high refresh, consider a lower refresh on battery to save watts without hurting app speed.
4) Give Search A Chance To Finish
Type while indexing runs and you’ll feel hiccups. If the disk light stays busy and the fans rise after first setup, let the laptop idle for a short stretch so indexing and the store can settle.
5) Clear Space And Temp Files
Open Settings → System → Storage. Turn on Storage Sense and run Cleanup recommendations. Aim for at least 15–20% free space on the system drive so updates and caches don’t choke.
6) Scan Once, Then Schedule
Run a full scan with Windows Security. It’s rare on day one, but a quick check rules out anything odd shipped by mistake or added during transfer from an old PC. After that, let scheduled scans run during idle time.
7) Update Drivers From The OEM App
Most vendors include a support app for BIOS, firmware, and drivers. Use that app for chipset, graphics, and audio updates. Stick with the official package until you’re sure generic drivers are stable for your model.
When The Laptop Still Feels Sluggish
If the quick wins didn’t help, look at these deeper areas that often match the symptoms.
RAM: 8 GB Feels Tight
Modern browsers chew through memory. With 40 tabs, a video call, and a PDF open, 8 GB can swap to disk and everything crawls. If your model allows it, upgrading to 16 GB brings headroom for everyday multitasking.
SSD: Small Capacity Or Slow Models
Entry SSDs can stall under heavy writes. If you copy lots of files or build code, a larger or faster NVMe drive helps. Many thin laptops use a single M.2 slot, so clone to a bigger drive when you can. If upgrades aren’t possible, lean on external SSDs for bulky data.
CPU: Power Limits, Not “Weak” Chips
New chips are fast, but thin chassis set tight power limits to keep heat in check. Short bursts fly, then speeds settle. That’s normal. Plugging in raises the sustained speed on many models. If speed only dips on battery, your power mode is the bottleneck, not the processor.
Cloud Sync: Great, Until It Isn’t
OneDrive, Dropbox, Drive, iCloud—each can peg disk and network after first sign-in. Pause sync during meetings or installs, then resume later. Once the first wave finishes, sync becomes light and quiet.
Antivirus: First Full Scan
Defender runs an early deep scan on new setups. That scan can use CPU and disk for a while, then it backs off. Let it finish once so later scans run during idle time.
Second-Phase Tuning For A New Machine
Once the dust settles, lock in a few habits and you’ll keep that fresh speed for the long haul.
| Area | What To Change | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Startup clutter | Disable auto-launch for trials, updaters, and game launchers | Task Manager → Startup apps |
| Power profile | Balanced on battery; Best performance on AC for heavy work | Settings → System → Power & battery |
| Storage health | Keep 15–20% free; run Storage Sense monthly | Settings → System → Storage |
| Browser habits | Limit heavy extensions; close ancient tabs | Browser settings |
| Driver updates | Use the vendor app for BIOS and firmware | OEM support tool |
Taking A New Laptop That Runs Slow: Clear Troubleshooting Paths
Follow the symptom to the next action. No need for wild tweaks.
If Apps Hang Only On Battery
Raise Power mode a notch. Check that Battery saver isn’t forcing limits. Some displays drop refresh rate on battery; set a fixed rate if motion looks jerky.
If Everything Drags Right After Boot
Stagger startup. Turn off auto-launchers. Reboot once, sign in, and wait two minutes. Start only the app you need and gauge the difference.
If File Copies Crawl
Test to the internal SSD first. If speeds are fine internally but slow to an external disk, the external drive or cable is the bottleneck. Use a USB-C or Thunderbolt port and a known good cable.
If Video Calls Drop Frames
Pause sync and close unused tabs before joining. Switch the call app to use the discrete GPU only if your model supports it. Keep the charger connected for long sessions.
Clean Setup Moves That Pay Off
These moves take a little time but give a smooth daily feel.
Remove Trialware You’ll Never Use
Uninstall trial antiviruses, duplicate cloud tools, and vendor promos. Keep only the control panels that manage your touchpad, audio, camera, and GPU.
Refresh The Browser
Sign in to your browser, but prune old extensions. Many slow page loads or block the GPU process. Start fresh, then add only what you truly need.
Plan External Storage
Move photos, raw video, and game libraries to a fast external SSD. Keep the system drive for apps and active files.
When To Consider A Return Or Exchange
If a day of setup and tuning still leaves the machine dragging under light work, you may have a mismatch or a defect. Loud coil whine, random freezing, or SSD errors on a brand-new unit aren’t worth chasing. Back up your files and ask the retailer for an exchange while you’re inside the return window.
FAQ-Style Notes Without The Fluff
Do I Need More RAM Right Away?
Maybe. Check memory use under Task Manager while you work. If it sits near the ceiling and you hear the SSD churning, more RAM will help.
Should I Clean Install Windows?
If the vendor image is bloated and you’re comfortable reinstalling, a clean Windows image with only drivers can feel lean. Back up your data first.
Is An i3 Or Ryzen 3 Too Weak?
For mail, docs, and streaming—no. They feel fine when storage is fast, power mode isn’t capped, and startup isn’t crowded.
Keep It Simple, Keep It Fast
New laptops feel slow for fixable reasons: setup tasks, crowded startup, tight power limits, or a tiny SSD. Tackle those, link Power mode to your work, give indexing time to settle, and you’ll get the speed you expected from day one.