Windows 11 slow? Start with the quick wins: restart the PC, install updates, and turn off apps that launch at startup in Settings → Apps → Startup. Then open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc to see what’s using your CPU, memory or disk.
If that doesn’t help, free up drive space, set Power mode to Best performance, scan for malware and trim visual effects. The 12 fixes below are in the order worth trying.
A PC rarely gets slow for no reason. Usually it’s too many apps starting with Windows, a drive that’s almost full, something heavy running in the background, or a power setting that favors battery over speed. Each fix below comes from Microsoft’s own advice and takes a few minutes.
Why is Windows 11 slow?
- Startup apps: chat apps, cloud storage, launchers and updaters all start when you sign in and keep running.
- Low disk space: Microsoft says a nearly full drive can cause slower performance and trouble installing updates.
- Background activity: apps, syncing and updates competing for the same processor and memory.
- Power settings: a mode that saves energy also holds back speed.
- Malware: less common, but it can use resources quietly.
- Hardware limits: an older hard drive or little memory will feel slow no matter what you change.
12 fixes for a slow Windows 11 PC
1. Close apps and restart
It sounds too simple, but restarting clears memory and finishes pending updates. Save your work, then select Start → Power → Restart. Use Restart rather than Shut down if your PC has been on for days.
2. Install Windows updates
- Select Start → Settings → Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates and install what’s offered.
- Go to Advanced options → Optional updates and install any driver updates listed there.
- Restart when asked.
3. Turn off startup apps you don’t need
This is often the biggest single speed-up, especially for slow sign-ins.
- Select Start → Settings → Apps → Startup.
- Turn off the toggle for apps you don’t need the moment you sign in.
- Leave your antivirus and anything you rely on (like a cloud backup) switched on.
You can also do this in Task Manager under Startup apps: right-click an app and select Disable. Turning an app off here doesn’t uninstall it. You can still open it whenever you want.
4. Find what’s using resources in Task Manager
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. On the Processes tab, select the CPU, Memory or Disk column header to sort by it. If one app is near the top all the time, close it, update it or uninstall it. The Performance tab shows whether you’re regularly running out of memory or hitting 100% disk.
5. Free up disk space with Storage Sense
- Select Start → Settings → System → Storage.
- Open Temporary files, check what you want to delete and select Remove files.
- Check Cleanup recommendations for large or unused files, files synced to the cloud and unused apps.
- Turn on Storage Sense so Windows clears temporary files automatically, or select Run Storage Sense now.
If you upgraded Windows less than 10 days ago, the cleanup list may include your previous version of Windows. Microsoft warns that deleting it can’t be undone and you won’t be able to go back.
6. Uninstall apps you don’t use
Go to Start → Settings → Apps → Installed apps, select More options (…) next to an app, then Uninstall. Trial software that came with the PC is a good place to start.
7. Stop apps running in the background
In Settings → Apps → Installed apps, select More options (…) next to an app, then Advanced options. Under Let this app run in the background, choose Never. Not every app shows this option.
8. Set Power mode to Best performance
Select Start → Settings → System → Power & battery and change Power mode to Best performance. On a laptop this uses more battery, so you may want it only while you’re plugged in. The options you see can vary by PC.
9. Turn down visual effects
Select Start, type Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows and open it. On the Visual Effects tab, choose Adjust for best performance, then Apply. Windows will look plainer, but older PCs feel snappier.
10. Scan for malware
Go to Start → Settings → Privacy & security → Windows Security → Virus & threat protection and select Quick scan. If you suspect a problem, run a full scan from Scan options.
11. Optimize your drives
Select Start, type defragment and open Defragment and Optimize Drives. Select your drive and choose Optimize. Windows picks the right method for SSDs and hard drives, and it usually runs this on a schedule anyway.
12. Turn off notifications you don’t need
Go to Start → Settings → System → Notifications and switch off apps that don’t need to alert you. Fewer pop-ups also means fewer interruptions while you work.
Change one or two things at a time and restart. That way you can tell which fix made the difference. For more tweaks worth making, see our list of Windows 11 settings to change.
If Windows 11 is still slow
- Check the hardware. In Task Manager’s Performance tab, if memory is almost always full, more RAM will help more than any setting. If your PC still uses a spinning hard drive, moving to an SSD is the biggest upgrade you can make.
- Check whether the PC meets Windows 11 requirements. Older PCs upgraded from Windows 10 can struggle. Our guide Can my PC run Windows 11? explains what to look at.
- Try a clean boot. Microsoft’s clean boot guide starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, which helps you find a background program causing the slowdown.
- Back up before anything drastic. Before resetting Windows or swapping drives, follow our guide to backing up your Windows PC.
More fixes for everyday Windows problems are in our Windows section.
FAQ
Why is my new Windows 11 PC slow?
New PCs often ship with trial apps and many startup apps. Install updates, then turn off startup apps and uninstall software you don’t use.
Does turning off startup apps delete them?
No. It only stops them from opening when you sign in. You can still open them yourself whenever you need them.
Will Best performance mode drain my laptop battery?
It can use more power. Use it while plugged in and switch back to a balanced mode on battery.
Should I defragment an SSD?
Use Windows’ own Optimize Drives tool. It picks the right method for each drive type and normally runs on a schedule.
Is Windows 11 slower than Windows 10?
On supported hardware it shouldn’t be. If an upgraded PC feels slow, check the requirements and work through the fixes above.
