Windows 11 is designed for modern performance, but over time, even the best PCs can start to slow down. You may notice Windows 11 PC running slowly, taking too long to start, or lagging during tasks like browsing or gaming. Well, corrupted system files, background apps, and outdated settings can slow down even a new computer. However, you can use built-in tools and tweaks to easily boost Windows 11 performance. Whether you’re dealing with lag, slow boot times, or apps taking forever to load, here is how to speed up your Windows 11 computer — without needing to be a tech expert.
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🐢 What Makes Your Windows 11 PC Slow?
Your PC can get sluggish for a few common reasons. A user posted online about their Windows 11 laptop freezing during video edits, which was fixed with a quick cleanup. Here are the most common reasons why Windows 11 PCs become sluggish over time:
- Apps running in the background (like messaging apps, updaters, and widgets) can eat up RAM and CPU power, leaving fewer resources for tasks you’re actively using.
- A nearly full hard drive slows down read/write speeds and can even affect virtual memory, causing your system to lag.
- If too many apps launch automatically when you boot your PC, it can make startup feel painfully slow.
- Spyware, bloatware, and viruses can run silently in the background, draining system resources and slowing everything down.
- Using outdated drivers or missing critical updates can lead to performance issues, bugs, or even app crashes.
Method 1: Clean Up Storage Space
A full hard drive slows Windows 11, making apps like Edge or Microsoft Store take longer to open. Clearing junk files—like old downloads or temp data—frees up space and boosts performance. A student’s PC stopped lagging after deleting 30GB of unused files, per a forum post. Windows 11’s Storage Sense does this automatically, perfect for beginners, but you’ll need to check occasionally to keep your drive lean.
- Go to Settings > System > Storage on Windows 11.
- Wait a moment for it to show your drive’s used space.
- Turn on Storage Sense to auto-remove temp files.
- Click Cleanup recommendations and select old files (e.g., Downloads) to delete.
- Restart your PC to feel the difference. Open an app (e.g., Edge) to see if it loads faster.
Method 2: Manage Startup Apps
Windows 11 loads apps like Discord or OneDrive at startup, which can make booting feel slow. Disabling the ones you don’t need right away speeds up your computer and frees memory for work or games. A gamer cut their boot time from two minutes to 30 seconds by turning off chat apps, per an online post.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click the Startup apps tab at the top.
- Find apps with “High impact” (e.g., Spotify).
- Right-click high-impact apps and select Disable for the ones you don’t need at boot.
- Restart your PC to check if it starts faster.
- Open a program like File Explorer to confirm it runs smoothly.
Method 3: Update Your Drivers
Drivers tell Windows 11 how to use your PC’s parts, like the graphics card or Wi-Fi. Old drivers can slow games, videos, or browsing. Updating drivers with the latest version boosts performance. Windows 11 handles most updates automatically, making this beginner-friendly, but you’ll need Wi-Fi and a few minutes for downloads.
- Type “Device Manager” in the Start menu search and click it.
- Look for devices with a yellow triangle showing updates needed.
- Right-click a device (e.g., “NVIDIA Graphics”) and click Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers to find updates online.
- Restart your PC after the updates finish. Test a game or browser to notice the speed boost.
Method 4: Adjust Visual Effects
Windows 11’s animations—like window fades or taskbar glows—look nice but can slow down older PCs or budget laptops. Turning off visual effects like animations prioritizes speed, making apps open faster. This tweak is quick, built into Windows 11, and great for low-power devices, though your desktop might look plainer.
Disabling visual effects like animations can improve PC performance, especially on older or less powerful machines.
- Search “Performance” in the Start menu and select Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.
- Wait for the Visual Effects tab to load. Choose Adjust for best performance to turn off all animations.
- Click Apply to save changes. Close the settings window.
- Now, Open File Explorer to check if it feels quicker.
Method 5: Optimize Power Settings
Windows 11’s default power plan balances battery and speed, but it can limit performance on desktops or plugged-in laptops. Switching to high performance mode unlocks your PC’s full power and speeds up tasks like video rendering or gaming.
- Go to Settings > System > Power & battery.
- Click the Power mode drop-down menu.
- Select Best performance from the list.
- Close the settings window. Restart your PC to apply the change.
- Run a big app (e.g., Photoshop) to feel the speed.
Method 6: Uninstall Unnecessary Apps
Over time, we all install programs we no longer use — games, trial software, or one-time utilities. These apps can clutter your system, take up disk space, run in the background, and even check for updates regularly. By uninstalling unused or rarely used programs, you reduce the load on your system.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Click the three-dot menu next to unused apps and choose Uninstall.
- In addition, turn off background apps in Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
- Visit Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. If pending updates there allow them to download and install. Restart your PC to apply the changes.
Again, Malware and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) can run hidden in the background, using CPU, memory, and disk activity. Running a malware scan using Windows Security or a third-party tool helps detect and remove threats that may be affecting your PC’s performance and stability.
Mechanical hard drives (HDDs) are significantly slower than solid-state drives (SSDs). If your PC still runs on an HDD, upgrading to an SSD can speed up everything — from boot times and file access to app loading and multitasking.
