Published 05/06/2024
A slow running laptop can be incredibly frustrating, especially if your device is not that old, or even brand new. Despite the annoyance, sluggish laptops are a very common problem, with many users facing reduced performance over time, especially in laptops that have been used heavily.
Many things can cause your laptop to slow down, including insufficient RAM or low memory, high CPU usage, having too many programs running, having too many browser tabs open, using outdated software or drives and of course, dreaded malware and viruses.
In this practical guide, we’ll walk you through some of the most common causes of slow laptops, helping you to diagnose the issue and improve your devices’ performance and speed.
COMMON CAUSES OF SLOW LAPTOPS
BACKGROUND PROGRAMS
Background programs are applications that run continuously or perform actions on your device, even when you’re not actively using them. Some of these programs could be essential to the running of your laptop, like background antivirus checks or software updates. But more often than not, you may have a few programs running that can be closed.
OUTDATED SOFTWARE OR DRIVERS
If you haven’t set your laptop to automatically update when a software update is available, you could be running an older version of your device’s operating system (OS). Updating to the latest OS can solve numerous performance issues including speed, in addition to fixing any bugs relating to older OS versions. The same is true for programs with updates, like Adobe applications.
MALWARE AND VIRUSES
Having any malware or viruses present on your laptop can cause a significant slowdown. It’s essential to run regular antivirus scans and eliminate any found threats. This one can be a dichotomy, as some antivirus programs are notorious for causing slow performance speed by running background virus checks. Ensure you research the best software for your device and have the latest version installed at all times. You may want to set scans to run whilst you’re not actively using your device.
FULL OR FRAGMENTED HARD DRIVES
Another common culprit of slow laptops is a full hard drive, which is essentially your laptop’s memory space. If your hard drives are stretched, it can cause slow performance. Hard drives and removable storage can also become fragmented, which is when pieces of files become scattered throughout your disks. Ensure you perform regular disk cleanups to consolidate files and delete and remove any large files or applications you don’t need or use anymore.
BLOCKED VENTILATION AND OVERHEATING
If your laptop is overheating, it will be using a lot of power to try and cool down, which can impact performance. Clean any filters and vents from dust and don’t use your device in direct sunlight. If you’re a gamer, you can also try a gaming laptop cooling pad.
CAN A SLOW LAPTOP BE FIXED?
The good news is that with adequate troubleshooting, slow laptop performance can often be improved. Taking steps such as ensuring operating systems and programs are up to date, performing regular antivirus scans, performing disk cleanups and removing unnecessary bloatware or disused applications, cleaning to prevent overheating and upgrading RAM can all significantly improve performance.
HOW DO I CHECK WHAT IS SLOWING DOWN MY LAPTOP?
USE TASK MANAGER TO CHECK PROGRAMS
Task manager can show you which programs or applications are consuming a lot of resources to run. Look for anything with a particularly high CPU, which is a measure of the processing power your laptop needs to run a particular program. Also, anything that’s taking up excessive memory or drive space. Eliminating some of these chunky programs could speed up performance.
PERFORM A DISK CLEANUP
A disk clean-up essentially frees up space within your hard drive and ensures any fragmented files are consolidated.
On Windows 11:
- Search ‘disk cleanup’ in your taskbar’s search box.
- Select ‘Disk Cleanup’ from the results.
- Navigate to the drive you want to perform the cleanup on, and click OK.
- Select the file types you want to delete in the ‘Files to Delete’ section (to see a description of the file, select it).
- Select OK and wait for the disk clean-up to finish.
On macOS:
- Click the Apple icon in your screen’s top left corner for the Apple menu.
- Select ‘About this Mac’, then ‘Storage’ and wait for the disk to calculate.
- Click ‘Manage’ to view Apple’s recommendations or navigate through apps and files manually to select files you want to delete.
Disk Cleanup in Windows
RESTART YOUR LAPTOP ONCE A WEEK
To clear up any temporary files that can get left over from used programs or operating tasks, make sure you’re restarting your laptop at least once a week. If you want to give your device a break, especially if it’s prone to overheating, it’s also good practice to switch it off for periods, when not in use. Even if your laptop is in ‘sleep’ mode, it’s still running certain operating tasks.
CLEAR YOUR CACHE
Clearing your cache regularly can also help improve performance and any temporary files clogging your system. Clearing browsing data such as cookies and history, in addition to closing down any tabs not in use can also help speed things up.
HOW DO I KNOW IF A VIRUS IS SLOWING DOWN MY COMPUTER?
Viruses and malware can cause significant performance issues on all different types of laptops and PCs if left unchecked. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, they could be warning signs that your device has been infiltrated.
- Unusual activity: This could include certain programs starting randomly, pop-ups appearing, applications you haven’t installed running or any windows opening or closing randomly.
- Sudden performance issues: If your device suddenly becomes slow, or is taking a much longer time to boot up or run specific applications.
HOW TO CHECK IF A VIRUS IS SLOWING DOWN MY COMPUTER:
The easiest way to check if a virus or malware is affecting your laptop’s speed is to run a full antivirus scan with up-to-date antivirus software. This can detect and remove any threats.
DO LAPTOPS GET SLOWER WITH AGE?
Unfortunately, it’s often the case that laptops will slow down with age. This can be down to outdated software or hardware, accumulating software, reduced hard disk storage and simply wear and tear. To extend the longevity of your laptop, make sure you’re regularly trying the tips above to keep it in good working condition.
WHY IS MY NEW LAPTOP SLOW?
A new laptop running slowly is the worst of the worst, especially if it’s straight out of the box. There are a few reasons this could be the case.
- Initial software updates: Lots of brand new laptops will need to run initial software and operating system updates. These can be lengthy and temporarily slow down performance. Wait until all updates are complete before using your device.
- Bloatware: All too common with new laptops, this refers to unnecessary pre-installed programs that can take up hard disk space and slow performance. Delete any bloatware before you use your new device.
- Insufficient RAM, processing or storage: It may be the simple case that your laptop doesn’t meet the specs that you need. If you’re using your device for gaming, storage of large files or resource intensive programs, check if your device’s specs, particularly its RAM, are suitable.
WHY IS MY LAPTOP SLOW ALL OF A SUDDEN?
If your laptop suddenly slows down considerably, this could be a sign of viruses or malware being present on your device. Hardware and RAM can also crash suddenly, often due to things like overheating, power surges or manufacturing defaults. Certain software updates can also introduce bugs, or automatic updates running in the background that you aren’t aware of could cause temporary performance issues.
WHY IS MY LAPTOP SLOW WITH NOTHING RUNNING?
The most common culprits for a slow running laptop or PC even when you have no programs or browsers open are background applications, low storage and high disk usage. Use your device’s task manager to check for background applications and perform a disk cleanup.
LAPTOP SPEED FIXES FOR SPECIFIC MANUFACTURERS
Different manufacturers all come with their own sets of problems. Here are a few tips you can try depending on your specific manufacturer.
WINDOWS
Despite it being the most used operating system in the world, Windows is known for its performance lag time with age. Try using Windows’ built-in clean-up tools like ‘Disk Cleanup’ (mentioned above) and ‘Disk Defragmenter’. Windows also comes with its own antivirus, Windows Defender. Keep this updated and run scans often. Windows machines can also come with a lot of additional bloatware.
LENOVO
Lenovo is another culprit for pre-installed bloatware. Ensure you check through applications thoroughly and delete any unwanted programs. You should also run regular updates and troubleshoot any specific issues through Lenovo Vantage.
HP
One perk of HP laptops is that they come with HP Support Assistance which can help you troubleshoot and resolve any performance issues on your device as well as keep up to date with regular software updates. Run task manager to check for bloatware and any resource heavy applications.
CHROMEBOOKS
Chromebooks can also slow down over time, a common cause being built-up cache, cookies and large amounts of browsing history. Try clearing all of these regularly, as well as keeping tabs and open windows to a minimum. Remove any Chrome extensions you’re no longer using and ensure you’re keeping on top of regular operating system updates.
MACS
Whilst MacBooks are generally known for their fast and smooth performance, slowing down with time can be an issue, especially if you’re running older versions of macOS or using a device that doesn’t support the most up-to-date version. You can also use the Activity Monitor (mentioned above) to identify any resource and CPU-heavy applications and free up disk space by storing larger files in iCloud.
SLOW LAPTOP TAKEAWAYS
Whilst incredibly frustrating, slow laptop performance can usually be solved reasonably quickly with the right troubleshooting steps.
Simple maintenance tasks like installing regular operating system and software updates, running frequent antivirus scans, disk cleanups and clearing cache can all ensure your machine is performing effectively, even if it’s been used heavily for several years.
If you’re using your laptop for gaming, you may want to explore our guide on how to increase your gaming laptop’s lifespan, for gamer-specific tips.
