Windows 11 Slow Start After Update? Here’s What to Do

Windows 11, Microsoft’s latest operating system, brings a faster and smoother experience for users with its modern design and improved features. Microsoft regularly releases updates to make Windows 11 even better, fixing issues and enhancing performance. Even though Windows 11 is marketed as lightning-fast, you may notice Windows 11 Slow Start After Update. There are various reasons why the system startup might take longer in Windows 11. It may be a third-party startup app interfering with the booting process, corrupted system files also trigger Windows 11 slow boot. Again insufficient RAM, problematic Windows updates, disk errors or malware infection also cause Windows 11 slow startup and lag right after startup. Let’s explore what causes this issue and How to Fix Slow Boot Times in Windows 11

How to Fix a Slow Startup on Windows 11

The main reason why Windows 11 PC start slowly after an update is that the update process may have changed some of the settings or files that affect the boot time. For example, the update may have enabled some unnecessary startup programs, added some new drivers that are incompatible with your hardware, or corrupted some system files that are essential for loading Windows.

• Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause disruptions in the startup sequence.
• The update might trigger an increase in background processes and services running during startup.
• Certain applications or software may not be optimized for the latest Windows 11 update.
• A lack of free space on the system drive can impede the startup process.
• Corrupted system files or registry errors can undermine the startup efficiency.
• Sometimes an inappropriate power plan could affect your computer’s performance.

Before apply any solutions, you should consider restarting your PC. Install the latest Windows 11 updates and scan your PC for virus or malware infection.

Disable unnecessary startup programs

Some programs may run automatically when you start your PC, even if you don’t need them. These programs can slow down your boot time and consume your system resources. You should consider disabling startup apps on Windows 11 to fix slow boot times.

• First Access the Task Manager using Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard
• Then, click on the Startup tab and disable any programs that you don’t want to run at startup.

Also, you can open settings using Windows key + I, navigate Apps then choose Startup. Disable the toggle for the apps you don’t need to start automatically during startup.

Optimize Startup Services

Performing a clean boot helps isolate the cause of slow boot times by eliminating potential interference from third-party services and startup programs. It’s an effective method for troubleshooting and optimizing your system’s startup performance. Clean boot can also help you determine if background apps are causing slow startup issues in Windows 11.

• Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type msconfig, and press Enter.
• In the System Configuration window, go to the “Services” tab,
• Check “Hide all Microsoft services,” and Then, click the Disable all button.

• Next move to  Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.

• In the Startup tab, select each item and click Disable. Close Task Manager.
• In the System Configuration window, click OK and then restart your PC.

Performing a clean boot can help identify and resolve issues causing slow boot times on Windows 11.

Turn Off Fast Startup

Fast Startup is a feature that allows Windows 11 to resume from a hybrid shutdown state, which saves some system information to a file on the disk. This makes your PC boot faster, but it can also cause some issues, such as preventing your drive from being fully optimized or interfering with some hardware devices. Sometimes, it can cause a problem with Windows 11 slow startup.

Turn off Fast Startup following steps below and check if this helps:

• Go to the Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
• Click on Choose what the power buttons do on the left pane.
• Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
• Uncheck the box next to Turn on Fast Startup (recommended) and click on Save Changes.

Scan for virus malware infection

Malware can significantly impact system performance, including the boot sequence. Run a thorough antivirus or antimalware scan to detect and remove any malicious software that may be slowing down your system.

• Perform a full system scan using a reputable antivirus or antimalware program.

Run a system file check

Another possible cause of a slow startup on Windows 11 is corrupted or missing system files. These files are essential for the proper functioning of Windows 11 and any damage or error can affect its performance. You can repair system files using sfc (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) commands.

• Open Command Prompt as administrator by pressing Windows + X and selecting Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
• Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This will scan all protected system files and replace any corrupted or missing ones
• Next, run the DISM command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. This will scan and restore any damaged system components.
• Let the scanning complete 100%, once done reboot your computer.

Update your drivers

Sometimes, the updates from Microsoft may install new drivers that are not compatible with your hardware or may overwrite existing drivers that work well. This can cause performance issues and slow down your boot time. To update your drivers, you can use the Device Manager or the Windows Update tool in Windows 11.

Updating your graphics drivers can improve your PC’s performance and fix any compatibility issues with Windows 11

• Press Windows + X on your keyboard and select Device Manager
• Then, expand the categories of devices and right-click on any device that has a yellow exclamation mark or a question mark
• Select Update driver and then Search automatically for updated driver software.

To access the Windows Update tool, click on the Start menu and select Settings. Then, click on Update & Security and then Windows Update. Click on Check for updates and install any available updates.

Turn Off Virtual Effects

Virtual effects are visual enhancements that make Windows 11 look more attractive, such as animations, shadows, and transparency. However, they can also consume some of your system resources and slow down your startup time

• Press Windows key + R, type Sysdm.cpl and click ok
• In the “ Advanced ” tab click on “ Settings ” under “ Performance ”.
• From there, select “ Adjust for best performance ” and click “ OK .”

Graphical effects such as animations are now disabled under Windows. This ensures that your computer generally becomes faster. Of course, this also affects the start.

Turn on Storage Sense

Storage Sense is a feature that automatically frees up space on your PC by deleting temporary files, emptying the Recycle Bin, and removing other unnecessary items. This can help your PC run faster and smoother by reducing the clutter on your disk.

• Open the Settings app and click on System.
• Click on Storage and then Storage Sense.
• Toggle on the switch next to Storage Sense.
• Click on Configure Storage Sense or run it now to customize how often and what types of files you want to delete.

One of the best ways to speed up your startup time and overall performance is to upgrade your boot drive to an SSD (solid state drive). An SSD is a type of storage device that uses flash memory instead of spinning disks, which makes it much faster, quieter, and more reliable than a traditional HDD (hard disk drive).

Sometimes the problem is not with your computer’s software, but rather with the hardware. Your computer may start up very slowly because it doesn’t have enough memory. Modern computers should have at least 4 GB of RAM, and ideally even 8 GB. Even more RAM is of course better and faster, but not necessary for normal computer users.