My PC is running slow

Most slowdowns come from too many programs starting with Windows, a nearly full drive or pending updates. Work through these in order.

Quick checks

1. Restart, don't just shut down. Select Start > Power > Restart. Shut down keeps some of Windows in memory, while Restart clears it.
2. Plug in your laptop. On battery, Windows slows the processor to save power.
3. Set the power mode. Open Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode and choose Best performance.
4. Install updates. Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.

Find what's slowing it down

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. On the Processes tab, select the CPU, Memory and Disk column headings to sort by what's using the most.
3. Close programs you don't need: right-click and select End task. Don't end anything you don't recognise.
4. Open the Startup apps tab. Right-click anything marked High impact that you don't need at startup and select Disable.

Tidy up

• Uninstall programs you don't use: Settings > Apps > Installed apps, then … > Uninstall. Trial software that came with other downloads is a common culprit.
• Free up space: keep at least 25% of your C: drive free (see Running out of storage space).
• Trim your browser: close tabs you're not using and remove extensions you don't need.
• Scan for malware: open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Quick scan.
• Reduce visual effects: search for View advanced system settings, select Settings under Performance, then choose Adjust for best performance.

Is it time for an upgrade?

If Task Manager shows Memory above 85% during normal use, more RAM will help. Our East Brisbane store can fit more RAM or a larger SSD for most models.