Windows 11 Laptop Slow? 9 Fixes That Work (2026)

Last updated: October 31, 2026

Quick answer: Is your Windows 11 laptop slow, laggy or freezing? Start with the quick wins: restart it, install Windows and driver updates, turn off apps you don’t need at startup, free up disk space and run a virus scan. Each step takes a few minutes and uses tools already built into Windows, so you don’t need to buy any “PC cleaner” software. The steps below go from the quickest fixes to the more involved ones, so start at the top and work down.

The menu names in this guide match Microsoft’s current Windows 11 support pages as of October 2026. Microsoft sometimes moves settings around in feature updates. If a menu looks slightly different on your laptop, type the setting name into the search box on the Start menu.

Why Is My Windows 11 Laptop Slow?

A laptop rarely slows down for just one reason. Common causes include:

• Too many apps launching automatically when Windows starts
• A nearly full hard drive or SSD
• Missing Windows or driver updates, or a recent update that caused a problem
• Malware or unwanted software running in the background
• Lots of browser tabs and apps open at once
• Battery-saving power settings, or a charger that can’t supply enough power
• Older hardware, such as a small amount of memory (RAM) or a traditional spinning hard drive

Microsoft suggests trying several fixes, because more than one of these is often to blame.

Step 1: Restart Your Laptop Properly

It sounds too simple, but a restart clears out memory and closes programs that are stuck in the background. Many people only close the lid, which puts the laptop to sleep instead of restarting it.

1. Save your work and close your apps.
2. Select Start > Power > Restart.
3. After it restarts, open only the apps you need.

Step 2: Install Windows Updates and Optional Driver Updates

Updates often include performance and stability fixes, and updated drivers can fix problems with graphics, Wi-Fi and storage.

1. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update.
2. Select Check for updates.
3. If updates are available, select Download & install, then restart if asked.
4. For drivers, go to Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates. If you see driver updates there, select them and choose Download & install.

Your laptop maker (such as HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus or Acer) may also offer drivers on its official support site. Avoid third-party driver download sites.

Step 3: Turn Off Startup Apps You Don’t Need

Many programs set themselves to open every time Windows starts. They slow down start-up and keep using memory afterwards.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Select Startup apps from the menu on the left.
3. Look at the Startup impact column. Right-click any app you don’t need right away and select Disable.

What’s safe to disable? Things like chat apps, game launchers, music apps and cloud-storage helpers you don’t use daily are usually fine to turn off. Disabling an app only stops it from opening automatically; you can still open it yourself. Leave security software and anything you don’t recognize alone until you’ve looked it up.

Step 4: Free Up Disk Space

When your drive is almost full, Windows has less room for temporary files and updates, and things slow down.

Remove temporary files

1. Select Start > Settings > System > Storage.
2. Select Temporary files.
3. Tick the types of files you want to remove and select Remove files.

Before ticking Downloads, check that folder for anything you want to keep, because it will be deleted.

Turn on Storage Sense

Storage Sense cleans up temporary files automatically.

1. Go to Settings > System > Storage.
2. Select Storage Sense.
3. Turn it on, then select Run Storage Sense now.

Uninstall apps you no longer use

1. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Find an app you don’t use, select More options (the three dots), then Uninstall.

The classic Disk Cleanup tool is still available too: type Disk Cleanup in the Start menu search, open it, and choose your drive.

Step 5: Scan for Viruses and Malware

Malware can quietly use your processor and disk. Windows 11 includes Windows Security for free.

1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security.
2. Select Virus & threat protection.
3. Select Quick scan.

If you use another antivirus program, run a full scan with that instead.

Step 6: Stop Apps Running in the Background

Some apps keep running after you close them. For apps that support it, you can limit this:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Select More options (…) next to the app, then Advanced options.
3. Under Background app permissions, set Let this app run in the background to Never.

Not every app shows this option. Traditional desktop programs usually manage background activity in their own settings.

Step 7: Adjust Power Mode and Visual Effects

Choose a faster power mode

1. Select Start > Settings > System > Power & battery.
2. In the Power mode drop-down, select Best performance.

Microsoft notes this drains the battery faster and can make the laptop run warmer, so it’s best when you’re plugged in. On some laptops, the available power modes depend on the hardware and manufacturer.

Turn down visual effects

1. Select Start, type Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, and open it.
2. On the Visual Effects tab, select Adjust for best performance, then OK.

Windows will look a little plainer, but older laptops can feel more responsive.

Step 8: Optimize Your Drive

1. Select Start, type Defragment and Optimize Drives, and open it.
2. Select your main drive (usually C:) and select Optimize.

Windows uses the right method for your drive type automatically, whether it’s an SSD or a traditional hard drive.

Step 9: Find What’s Using Your Resources

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. On the Processes tab, click the CPU, Memory or Disk column heading to sort by usage.
3. If an app you aren’t using is near the top, right-click it and select End task.

Web browsers are often the biggest users of memory. Closing tabs you don’t need can make a real difference.

Windows 11 Slow to Start Up? Check Startup Apps and Fast Startup

If your laptop is fine once it’s running but takes ages to reach a usable desktop, the delay usually comes from what loads at startup or from the laptop’s firmware. Work through these checks in order.

1. Trim your startup apps first. Follow Step 3 above and start with the apps marked High in the Startup impact column. Each one you disable gives Windows less to load before your desktop is ready.
2. Check Last BIOS time. On the same Startup apps page in Task Manager, look for Last BIOS time near the top. It shows how long your laptop’s firmware took to prepare the hardware before Windows began loading. If it’s high, the delay happens before Windows starts, so check your laptop maker’s support site for a BIOS or UEFI firmware update. Some laptops don’t report this figure, so it may be missing.
3. Make sure Fast Startup is on. Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable and check that Turn on fast startup (recommended) is ticked, then select Save changes. Microsoft turns Fast Startup on by default and doesn’t recommend turning it off.
4. Compare Shut down with Restart. Fast Startup only speeds up switching on after Shut down. Microsoft notes that Restart always does a full boot cycle, so a restart taking longer than a normal start-up is expected.
5. If the Fast Startup option is missing, hibernation may be turned off on your laptop. Fast Startup saves part of Windows to the hibernation file when you shut down, so it isn’t available without it.

Tip: If start-up became slow right after you installed something new, uninstall it, or test with a clean boot (see below) to find the program responsible.

Slow After a Windows Update? Uninstall the Update

If your laptop became slow or unstable right after an update, restart it and give it some time first, because things can be sluggish for a while after a big update. If the problem continues, you can remove the most recent update.

1. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update.
2. Under More options, select Update history.
3. Under Related settings, select Uninstall updates.
4. Find the update you installed most recently, select Uninstall, and restart if asked.

A few things to know:

• Microsoft says some updates can’t be uninstalled, so you may not see an Uninstall option for every item.
• Be careful with security updates. Removing one can leave your laptop exposed, so only do it to fix a real problem, and reinstall updates once a fix is released.
• If Windows won’t start properly, you can remove the latest update from the Windows Recovery Environment instead: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates.

Also check Optional updates again (Step 2). A newer driver from Microsoft or your laptop maker sometimes fixes problems that appeared after an update.

Windows 11 Laptop Slow on Battery? Try These Fixes

A laptop can be a little slower on battery because Windows tries to save power. If it feels much slower unplugged, check these settings.

Check power mode and Energy saver

1. Go to Settings > System > Power & battery.
2. Look at Power mode. Best power efficiency limits background activity to save battery, which can make the laptop feel slower. Choose Balanced or Best performance when speed matters more than battery life.
3. Select Energy saver. Energy saver dims the screen and limits background processes. Check the level next to Turn energy saver on when battery level is at, and make sure Always use energy saver is off if you want full speed.

On older versions of Windows 11, this feature is called Battery saver instead of Energy saver. Some laptop makers also include their own power or performance app, which can override these settings, so check it too.

Use the right charger

If your laptop is slow even when plugged in, or the battery drains while it’s charging, the charger may not be supplying enough power. Dell’s support site, for example, notes that its laptops can limit performance when the AC adapter is underpowered or not recognized. Use the charger that came with your laptop, or one from the manufacturer with the same wattage rating. USB-C chargers from phones are often too weak for a laptop.

See which apps drain the battery

Go to Settings > System > Power & battery > Battery usage. Under Battery usage per app, you can see which apps use the most battery in the background. For apps that allow it, select More options > Manage background activity to limit them.

Is RAM or Your Drive the Bottleneck?

If the laptop is still slow after the steps above, the hardware itself may be holding it back. Task Manager can show you which part is struggling.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and select the Performance tab.
2. Select Memory. If memory use stays close to 100% while you’re doing normal things like browsing and email, your laptop may simply need more RAM.
3. Select your Disk. If Active time sits at or near 100% for long periods, the drive is the bottleneck.
4. Select CPU. If it stays very high with only a few apps open, look at the Processes tab to see which app is responsible.

Check whether you have an SSD or a hard drive

Open Defragment and Optimize Drives (see Step 8) and look at the Media type column. It shows Solid state drive or Hard disk drive. You can see how much memory is installed under Settings > System > About, next to Installed RAM.

Should you upgrade?

Microsoft notes that older PCs with outdated hardware may not see big improvements from software fixes alone. Moving from a hard disk drive to an SSD, or adding RAM, can help a lot. However, many thin laptops have memory that’s soldered to the motherboard and can’t be upgraded. Check your laptop’s manual or the manufacturer’s support site for your exact model before buying parts, or ask a repair shop.

Test in Safe Mode or With a Clean Boot

Safe Mode

Safe Mode starts Windows with a limited set of files and drivers. If the laptop runs normally in Safe Mode, Microsoft explains that the default settings and basic drivers aren’t the cause, which points to an app, a driver or a startup item instead.

1. Go to Settings > System > Recovery.
2. Next to Advanced startup, select Restart now.
3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
4. When the list appears, press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode (or 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking).

Restarting normally takes you back out of Safe Mode. If your laptop uses BitLocker encryption, you may need your BitLocker recovery key, so have it ready.

Clean boot

A clean boot starts Windows with Microsoft services but turns off third-party services and startup apps, so you can spot a program that’s interfering.

1. Sign in with an administrator account, select Search, type msconfig and open System Configuration.
2. On the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft services, then Disable all, then Apply.
3. On the Startup tab, select Open Task Manager and disable each enabled startup app. Write down what you disabled.
4. Close Task Manager, select OK and restart.

If the laptop is fast in a clean boot, turn services back on a few at a time until the slowdown returns. When you’re done, follow Microsoft’s steps to return to a normal startup by turning the services and startup apps back on.

Troubleshooting

Disk usage stays at 100%

This often happens just after an update or during a virus scan, so give it some time, then restart. If it continues, sort the Disk column in Task Manager’s Processes tab to see which app is responsible, and check whether you have a hard disk drive rather than an SSD (see above). Freeing up space (Step 4) and a clean boot can also help you track down the cause.

It gets slow when it’s hot

Laptops slow themselves down to cool off. Use the laptop on a hard, flat surface rather than a bed or sofa, and keep the air vents clear of dust.

Microsoft PC Manager

Microsoft also offers a free app called PC Manager that groups cleanup and startup tools in one place. It’s optional, and Microsoft notes it isn’t available in all regions. Only download it from Microsoft’s official website or the Microsoft Store, and avoid third-party “PC cleaner” apps that make big promises.

Nothing else has worked

As a last resort, Windows 11 has a Reset this PC option under Settings > System > Recovery. You can choose to keep your personal files, but back them up first and expect to reinstall your apps.

Conclusion

Start with the quick wins: restart, update, disable startup apps and clear temporary files. Then scan for malware and adjust your power settings. If the slowdown started after an update or only happens on battery, use the dedicated fixes above, and use Task Manager, Safe Mode or a clean boot to see whether software or hardware is to blame. Repeat the cleanup every month or two to keep your Windows 11 laptop running smoothly.

Sources: Microsoft Support: Tips to improve PC performance in Windows, How to uninstall a Windows Update, Battery saving tips for Windows, Windows startup settings, How to perform a clean boot in Windows, Microsoft Learn: Fast startup and hibernation and Dell Support: How to improve performance on a slow Dell computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related guides

• How to Free Up Space on iPhone (iOS 27 Guide)
• How to Back Up WhatsApp on iPhone & Android (2026)