Is your Windows PC feeling sluggish? Programs taking forever to open? This guide will walk you through the most effective steps to speed up your computer.
Symptoms
Programs take a long time to open
Frequent freezing or lag, especially after startup
High disk or CPU usage in Task Manager
Step-by-Step Resolution
1. Restart Your PC
Click Start > Power > Restart. After restart, wait 2-3 minutes before opening apps. This clears temporary files and refreshes system processes.
2. Check What's Using Resources
Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager
On the Processes tab, sort by CPU and then Memory
If a program you recognize is constantly at the top and you're not using it, right-click it and choose End task
3. Remove Startup Programs
In Task Manager, go to the Startup apps tab
Disable anything you don't need starting automatically (for example: Teams, Spotify, Adobe Updater)
Restart your PC to apply changes
4. Free Up Disk Space
Go to Settings > System > Storage
Turn on Storage Sense if available
Click Temporary files, select Downloads (if safe), Recycle Bin, and previous Windows installations
Click Remove files
5. Run a Malware Scan
Open Windows Security from the Start menu
Click Virus & threat protection > Quick scan
If anything is found, follow the removal prompts and restart
6. Update Windows and Drivers
Go to Settings > Windows Update and install all important updates
For display and network drivers, open Device Manager, right-click the device > Update driver > Search automatically
Still experiencing issues? If your PC remains slow after these steps, it may need hardware upgrades (SSD/RAM) or deeper cleanup. Our team at My IT Butler can help optimise your system with a remote session.