We have all experienced it. You’ve just sat down after a hard day at work and all you want to do is enjoy your novel game, only to find your Computer is misbehaving. Or perhaps you’re trying to meet a deadline but are bothered by a slow computer that just won’t let you finish the job. Even the most basic tasks you feel like a challenge when combined with a stuttering mouse and a clumsy system. And no matter how strong servers get, it just keeps on happening.
The truth is that these Desktop slowdowns don’t only happen out of thin air. Finding a purpose is the first step in the direction of fixing stuff because there is always one. There are a few common causes for a slow PC. For instance, you might have to several programs running in the background or have a lack of hard drive space. Or, if you shut your computer down for a while, it might just have a resume. Weirder issues have fixed lagging Computers, believe us.
These issues can all be resolved, and they are not the end of the world. With a few adjustments and prudent maintenance, you can get your computer running about as quickly as it did when you first set it up. Sometimes even faster, if you’re willing to make some adjustments.
These are the best pc computers for 2025 and the best devices for 2025, depending on what you can do and what you absolutely need.
Task Manager resembles a magical glass game.
Think of Task Manager as a glass into your PC’s wellbeing. The software provides information on what is being used by a program, how much memory is being used, and even how little network data is being used.  ,
An easy way to start Task Manager in Windows is by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc tips together. Alternately, you can search for Task Manager by clicking on the magnifying glasses on the Taskbar.
The default see of Task Manager just displays basic information, such as which apps are running, which is useful if you already know which one to close. To see what truly matters, press Details , in the remaining glass.
This listing is categorised by definition as Apps and Background Processes. It’s refreshed frequently, with the numerous columns continuously updating. My suggestion is to see Task Manager while letting it run for a few minutes. Watch out for programs that appear at the top of the list before disappearing a few seconds later. Look for procedures that stay at the top of the list with higher storage or CPU usage. Not sure what one of the steps is being used? Use Google to learn more about its label.  ,
Click on the list, finally click En Task to close an application or process you believe may be partially responsible for slow performance.  ,
Four more popular factors for a slow PC
There are far too many apps and services to provide a comprehensive list of what is good stifling a PC, but that doesn’t imply there aren’t good culprits. Here are some of the most significant problems that we all encounter on computers.  ,
antiviral virus scans
You might have noticed that your antivirus program is frequently near the top of the list after watching your system run slowly with Task Manager empty. Antivirus software can slow down your system while it’s constantly scanning your computer for ransomware and infections.  ,
Schedule your antivirus program to work at times when you’re certainly likely to be using your computer, such as overnight or during your lunch hour, rather than letting it inspect whenever it sees fit. Changing the deadline for scans will depend on the system you use, but generally, you can open the application and go to the settings window to personalize the plan.  ,
By opening the Windows Security apps and selecting the options for Virus &, Threat Protection & GT, and Microsoft Defender Antivirus, you can turn off the monthly monitoring option if you also use Windows Defender. Move the switch for Periodic scanning off and see if that makes any difference.
At login , too many applications are running.
If your computer won’t respond after you log into your Panels account for a while, you’re likely trying to launch to several programs. You can modify the list of apps and services that begin running when you log in to your system by opening Task Manager and clicking on the Startup software solution (tiny meter image in the left window ).  ,
By clicking the software title and then Delete, you can replace everything that you don’t need to be loaded and prepared the instant your computer turns on.
Some web sites are resource pigs
If you have lost track of the number of panels and tabs you have available, your website computer might be to blame. Ram and processing power are used by each browser window and button, which eventually start to drain your computer.  ,
By clicking the arrow next to the title of your browser, you can view a collapse of the extensions and buttons that might be to blame in Task Manager. If you use Chrome, it has a built-in work director of its own. Build it by pressing Shift+Esc while using Chrome, or click on the menu key >, More Tools >, Task boss.  ,
Consider switching to a different browser or keeping an eye on how many pages or panels you have available at once if you find that your computer frequently causes your PC to slow down.  ,
Your owners or operating program might be out of date.
Vehicles serve as a bridge between your hardware and software. When they are outdated, the parts you struggle to communicate with each other, resulting in slow efficiency, crashes, or worse, strange errors. Similar to how an outdated operating system performs without new features and performance improvements, which can cause issues when fresh software demands more from the outdated system.
Head over to the Windows Settings app and click Windows Update to install the most recent driver and operating system updates. Use the Check for updates button to scan for any new updates and take the time to install those that are available one by one.
solutions that have been tested
There are a variety of ways to speed up your computer while troubleshooting it. Below are some steps to take that should, at the very least, temporarily speed up your slow computer:
- When finished, stop using the apps you’re running. Make sure they aren’t running in the notification tray ( next to the volume and Wi-Fi indicators )! When you close some apps, such as Slack, they keep running in the background. By right-clicking an app’s icon and selecting quit or exit, you can typically completely close it. Consider getting rid of an app permanently if you no longer use it by uninstalling it from the Control Panel.
- Pause OneDrive syncing. Even Microsoft acknowledges that this can slow down your computer. By selecting More from the OneDrive icon in the notification tray, click on the OneDrive icon, and then Pause syncing.
- Check available storage space and , hard drive health. If your hard drive or SSD is losing data or getting old, it might be faulty. To get the fundamentals of my drives, I use CrystalDisk Info ( Standard Edition ). It’s a free app that quickly scans your drives and tells you their current health status. If you don’t feel comfortable using your hard drive, visit a tech who will figure out the problem and, if necessary, upgrade your storage.
- Turn your computer off frequently.  , Don’t just restart it, completely power it off and walk away for a few minutes. This enables your computer to erase its previous files and restart it when it is turned on.  ,
If none of the above suggestions speeds up your computer to a level that you’re happy with, you can try reducing animations, changing themes and toggling other Windows-specific settings. Make sure you know the best way to take screenshots on Windows 11 if you’re trying to get remote assistance. You’re in luck if you’re more of an Apple household: We have suggestions for speeding up a slow Mac as well.  ,
A bit of dust won’t affect your PC’s speed. However, the more dust your PC accumulates throughout its lifetime, the more likely its components will start to overheat and stop working, affecting its overall performance.
Your computer might be slow for a variety of reasons. If your computer isn’t protected by software, your computer may have picked up malware or a virus. Or you might be using too many applications in the background or have very little room on your computer.