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Why is my laptop so slow?

Waiting for minutes while your laptop loads can be a frustrating process. When it’s brand new, a computer’s speed is usually top-notch. One or two years down the line, it wouldn’t be unusual for anyone to start asking their friends or begin hitting up their favorite search engine or forum with, “my laptop is very slow.” 

So before you bang the table and join the chorus of others asking, “Why is my laptop so slow?”, we’ve highlighted a few potential culprits and how to solve them.

1. Insufficient disk space

Perhaps you’ve overburdened your computer’s hard drive. This will make the laptop slow. To free up space, you should delete unnecessary files and uninstall applications you never use.

2. Running too many programs 

If you have a freezing cursor, a delayed shutdown procedure or unresponsive programs, you probably have too many applications running at the same time. Similar to you, a computer can only handle a certain number of tasks at any given time while still providing each one the same level of effort. Cutting back on open applications is an easy place to start if you’re currently wondering, “why is my laptop so slow?”.

3. Windows 10 updates

Updates fix security loopholes and bugs in your operating system to protect your computer, but they can also happen at times when you’re already busy on your machine. This causes a slow laptop and, likely, annoys you. Schedule updates around the hours in which you normally use your computer to help prevent your laptop running slow.

4. Viruses and malware

Disruptive programs like viruses or malware can enter your laptop and cause problems, including making your laptop very slow. Combining sensible online browsing practices and effective antivirus software is a good place to start. 

Before running to an expert asking, “why is my laptop so slow?,” check whether it’s something you could actually fix yourself. CCleaner comes in handy if you want to speed up a laptop, helping to clear unnecessary data and files, schedule updates, disable redundant apps and more.

FAQs

  • How can I make my laptop run faster?

    A laptop’s speed depends both on its hardware and software. While having up-to-date hardware can certainly help, cleaning junk files, managing your storage, doing regular software updates and more are also very important.

  • How do I fix a slow laptop with Windows 10 or Windows 11?

    There are many things you can do by yourself for free like adjusting Windows 10 or Windows 11’s performance settings, but you could also try one of CCleaner's award-winning apps to defragment your hard disk, clean junk files, disable needless startup apps and more.

  • Why is my laptop so slow HP?

    HP laptops fall victim to similar hardware and software problems as other PC brands. From missed software updates, poorly optimized storage to junk files and more, CCleaner can help you understand what may have gone wrong and how to fix it.