Fix a Computer Running Slow

Speed up your slow computer by clearing temporary files, disabling startup programs, and updating drivers. Step-by-step troubleshooting.

1. Check your disk space. Open your file manager and navigate to your primary drive. If your drive shows less than 15% free space, you're running critically low. A nearly full drive forces the system to work harder. Delete large files you no longer need, empty your trash or recycle bin, and consider moving old media to external storage.
2. Disable unnecessary startup programs. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, then click the Startup tab. Disable programs you don't need to launch at boot—cloud sync tools, messaging apps, and updaters are common culprits. Right-click each unnecessary program and select Disable. On macOS, go to System Settings > General > Login Items and remove applications from both the Login Items and Allow in the Dock While Logging In sections.
3. Clear temporary files and cache. On Windows, press Windows Key + R, type temp, and press Enter. Delete all files in the temporary folder. Then repeat the process with %temp% in the Run dialog. On macOS, open Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G, enter ~/Library/Caches, and move old cache folders to trash. Clearing browser cache is essential too—in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (or Cmd+Shift+Delete on Mac) and clear browsing data from all time periods.
4. Monitor active processes and memory usage. Open Task Manager on Windows (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) or Activity Monitor on macOS (Applications > Utilities). Sort by CPU and Memory columns to identify what's consuming resources. If a single process uses more than 50% CPU or 80% memory consistently, note its name. Legitimate processes include svchost.exe, explorer.exe, and Finder, but unfamiliar programs may indicate malware or bloatware that should be uninstalled.
5. Update drivers and system software. Outdated drivers, especially for graphics and chipsets, cause significant slowdowns. On Windows, open Device Manager (Windows Key + X > Device Manager), expand categories, right-click any device with a warning icon, and select Update Driver. For automatic updates, visit the manufacturer's website. On macOS and Windows, ensure your operating system is fully updated—check Windows Update in Settings or Software Update in System Settings on Mac. Install all available patches.
6. Run a malware and antivirus scan. Malware consumes system resources silently. On Windows, open Windows Defender (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security) and run a full scan. On macOS, use Malwarebytes or a similar trusted tool for a complete scan. If a threat is detected, quarantine or remove it. Allow the scan to complete fully before proceeding—this may take 10–30 minutes depending on drive size.
7. Enable storage sense and disable visual effects. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Storage and toggle Storage Sense on. Set it to automatically delete temporary files. For visual effects, press Windows Key, type Performance, select Adjust the Appearance and Performance of Windows, and choose Adjust for Best Performance. This disables animations and visual themes but noticeably speeds up older machines. On macOS, go to System Settings > General > Accessibility and disable Reduce motion and transparency.
8. Restart your computer. Save all open work and perform a full restart. A clean reboot clears memory, terminates lingering processes, and applies all changes made during troubleshooting. After restart, monitor performance for several minutes before opening multiple applications. If slowness persists, check Task Manager or Activity Monitor again for newly identified bottlenecks.