How to Speed Up a Slow Windows 11 PC

⏱ 4 min read 🏷 Windows · Beginners · Tips & Tricks 📅 April 2026

Is your Windows 11 PC running slow? You don't need to buy a new computer. These 5 simple steps can make your PC feel fast again — even if you're not a tech expert.

📋 Quick Overview

#	Step	Time Needed	Difficulty
1	Disable Startup Programs	2 minutes	Easy
2	Run Disk Cleanup	3–5 minutes	Easy
3	Adjust Power Settings	1 minute	Easy
4	Check for Malware	5–10 minutes	Easy
5	Restart Regularly	1 minute	Easy

🔧 Step-by-Step Guide

Disable Startup Programs

Many apps automatically start when you turn on your PC — slowing down boot time. Disabling them can make your PC start 2–3x faster.

1Right-click the Start button → click Task Manager
2Click the Startup apps tab at the top
3Right-click any app you don't need → click Disable
4Restart your PC and notice the difference!

💡

Pro Tip Safe to disable: Spotify, Discord, Steam, OneDrive, Teams. You can still open them manually when needed.

⚠️

Do NOT disable Your antivirus, Windows Security, or audio/graphics drivers.

Run Disk Cleanup

Over time your PC collects junk files — temp files, old downloads, Recycle Bin leftovers. Cleaning them frees up space and speeds up your PC.

1Press Windows + S → type Disk Cleanup → open it
2Select your C: drive → click OK
3Check all the boxes (Temporary files, Recycle Bin, etc.)
4Click "Clean up system files" for even more space
5Click OK → wait for it to finish

✅

This is 100% safe! Disk Cleanup only removes junk files. Your personal files, photos, and documents are never touched.

Adjust Power Settings

By default, Windows may limit your PC's speed to save power. Switching to High Performance mode tells Windows to use full power — making everything faster.

1Go to Settings → System → Power & sleep
2Click "Additional power settings"
3Select "High Performance" plan

⚠️

Laptop Users Note High Performance mode uses more battery. If you're on battery power, switch back to Balanced when away from the charger.

Check for Malware

Viruses and malware run in the background and secretly slow down your PC. Windows 11 has a built-in tool to find and remove them — and it's completely free.

1Press Windows + S → type Windows Security → open it
2Click Virus & threat protection
3Click Quick scan
4Wait for the scan to finish → remove anything it finds

💡

Run a full scan monthly Quick scan checks the most common locations. For a deeper check, click "Scan options" → Full scan once a month.

Restart Your PC Regularly

This sounds too simple — but it works! Many people leave their PC on for weeks without restarting. Over time, RAM fills up, updates pile up, and things slow down.

1Click the Start button → Power icon
2Click Restart (not Shut down)
3Do this at least once every 2 days

✅

Restart vs Shut Down Restart does a full fresh boot. Shut down on Windows 11 uses "Fast Startup" which doesn't fully clear memory. Always use Restart for best performance.

🎉 You're Done!

Follow these 5 steps and your Windows 11 PC should feel noticeably faster — usually within a few minutes.

If your PC is still very slow after all of this, it might be time to upgrade your RAM or switch from an HDD to an SSD. Leave a comment below and we'll write a guide for that too!

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How to Speed Up a Slow Windows 11 PC – 5 Simple Steps (2026)