How to Speed Up a Slow Laptop (Windows & Mac)

If your laptop has become slow and sluggish, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Over time, laptops can slow down due to unnecessary programs, background processes, or hardware limitations. Whether you're using Windows or macOS, follow this step-by-step guide to speed up your laptop and improve its performance.

1. Restart Your Laptop

It sounds simple, but restarting your laptop clears temporary files and refreshes system memory.

• Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete (Windows) and select Restart.
• On Mac, click Apple Menu > Restart.

2. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

On Windows:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
2. Click on the Startup tab.
3. Disable unnecessary apps from starting with Windows.

On Mac:

1. Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items.
2. Uncheck programs that don’t need to start automatically.

3. Free Up Storage Space

Running low on disk space can slow down your laptop.

On Windows:

1. Open Settings > Storage.
2. Delete unnecessary files and empty the Recycle Bin.
3. Run Disk Cleanup by typing `cleanmgr` in the Run dialog (Win + R).

On Mac:

1. Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac > Storage > Manage.
2. Use the optimization tools to delete large files and clear caches.

4. Update Software and Drivers

Keeping your operating system and drivers up to date improves speed and security.

On Windows:

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates and install pending updates.

On Mac:

1. Open System Preferences > Software Update.
2. Install any available macOS updates.

5. Close Unnecessary Background Processes

On Windows:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
2. Go to the Processes tab.
3. End tasks that are consuming too many resources.

On Mac:

1. Open Activity Monitor (Cmd + Space, type "Activity Monitor").
2. Close unnecessary apps that are using high CPU or memory.

6. Adjust Power Settings

On Windows:

1. Open Control Panel > Power Options.
2. Select High Performance for better speed.

On Mac:

1. Open System Preferences > Energy Saver.
2. Adjust settings to improve performance.

7. Scan for Malware and Viruses

Malware can slow down your system, so scanning your laptop regularly is crucial.

On Windows:

1. Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
2. Run a full system scan.

On Mac:

Macs have built-in security, but you can use Malwarebytes for additional scanning.

8. Upgrade Hardware (RAM or SSD)

If your laptop is still slow, upgrading hardware can make a huge difference.

• Adding more RAM helps with multitasking.
• Replacing an HDD with an SSD drastically improves speed.

9. Reset Your Laptop (If Necessary)

On Windows:

1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
2. Click Reset this PC and follow the instructions.

On Mac:

1. Restart and hold Cmd + R to enter macOS Recovery.
2. Select Reinstall macOS.

Conclusion

By following these tips, you can significantly speed up your slow laptop and improve performance. Regular maintenance, software updates, and freeing up storage space will help keep your laptop running smoothly.

For more tech tips, visit Microsoft Windows Support or Apple Support.