How to Fix Slow Computer (2026 Complete Guide)

1. Disable Startup Apps (Major Speed Boost)

This removes unnecessary apps that slow down boot time and background performance.

Click-by-click steps:

Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Task Manager.

Step 2: Click on the Startup tab at the top menu.

Step 3: You will see a list of all apps that start with Windows.

Step 4: Right-click on any app with High Impact (like Spotify, Teams, Adobe apps).

Step 5: Click Disable.

Step 6: Repeat for all unnecessary apps.

Step 7: Restart your PC to apply changes.

2. Clean Temporary Files (%temp% cleanup)

This removes junk files that slow down system processing.

Click-by-click steps:

Step 1: Press Windows + R key together.

Step 2: Type %temp% and press Enter.

Step 3: A folder will open with temporary files.

Step 4: Press Ctrl + A to select all files.

Step 5: Press Shift + Delete to permanently remove them.

Step 6: Skip files that cannot be deleted.

3. Enable Storage Sense (Auto Cleanup System)

Click-by-click steps:

Step 1: Click on Start Menu.

Step 2: Open Settings.

Step 3: Go to System.

Step 4: Click on Storage.

Step 5: Turn ON Storage Sense.

Step 6: Click on Storage Sense settings.

Step 7: Set it to run automatically every week.

4. Remove Unwanted Programs

Click-by-click steps:

Step 1: Press Windows + R.

Step 2: Type appwiz.cpl and press Enter.

Step 3: Installed programs list will open.

Step 4: Find software you don’t use.

Step 5: Click on it → Click Uninstall.

Step 6: Follow uninstall wizard.

5. Run Disk Cleanup Tool

Click-by-click steps:

Step 1: Click on Start.

Step 2: Search Disk Cleanup.

Step 3: Select C: drive.

Step 4: Click OK.

Step 5: Select all checkboxes (Temporary files, cache, recycle bin).

Step 6: Click Clean up system files.

Step 7: Confirm deletion.

6. Disable Background Apps

Click-by-click steps:

Step 1: Open Settings.

Step 2: Go to Privacy.

Step 3: Click Background Apps.

Step 4: Turn OFF “Let apps run in background”.

7. Update Windows System

Click-by-click steps:

Step 1: Open Settings.

Step 2: Go to Windows Update.

Step 3: Click Check for updates.

Step 4: Download and install updates.

Step 5: Restart PC after installation.

8. Scan for Viruses

Click-by-click steps:

Step 1: Open Windows Security.

Step 2: Click Virus & Threat Protection.

Step 3: Click Quick Scan.

Step 4: Wait for scan completion.

Step 5: Remove detected threats.

9. Free Up Disk Space

Click-by-click steps:

Step 1: Open File Explorer.

Step 2: Right-click C: Drive.

Step 3: Click Properties.

Step 4: Click Disk Cleanup.

Step 5: Remove unnecessary files.

10. Restart and Optimize System

Click-by-click steps:

Step 1: Click Start Menu.

Step 2: Click Power button.

Step 3: Select Restart.

Step 4: Wait for system reboot.

Step 5: Check performance improvement.