Is your PC or laptop running painfully slow?
Freezing, lagging, taking forever to open apps?
Good news — most slow computers can be fixed with a few easy steps. ⚡

This 2026-friendly guide shows you exactly how to speed up your system, even if you’re not tech-savvy.

1. Restart Your Computer 🔄

It sounds basic, but restarting clears:

cached processes
stuck apps
memory leaks

A quick restart often gives instant performance improvement.

2. Close Background Apps Using Task Manager 🧹

Many apps run silently and eat resources.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Open Task Manager
Sort by CPU or Memory
Close anything heavy you’re not using

Common offenders:

Chrome
Steam
Discord
Adobe apps
AI tools

3. Disable Startup Apps ⚙️

If your computer is slow when booting, this is the fix.

Go to:
Task Manager → Startup apps → Disable high-impact apps

==This alone can reduce your startup time from minutes to seconds.==

4. Free Up Storage Space (Aim for 20GB+) 🗃️

Low storage = slow system.

Quick cleanup steps:

Empty Recycle Bin
Delete temp files
Uninstall unused programs
Clear browser caches
Move videos/photos to cloud

💡 Pro Tip:
Enable Storage Sense in Windows to auto-delete junk files.

5. Run a Full Malware Scan 🛡️

If your computer slowed down suddenly, malware or adware may be the cause.

Use built-in tools:

Open Windows Security
Select Virus & threat protection
Run a Full scan

Windows Defender is more than enough for most threats in 2026.

6. Stop Overheating Issues 🌡️

Heat slows your system to protect hardware.

Fixes:

Clean dust from vents
Use a cooling pad
Avoid using your laptop on a bed/blanket
Close heavy apps while charging

Overheating = automatic performance drop.

7. Switch to an SSD (If You Still Have an HDD) ⚡

If you're still on an older spinning hard drive:

Upgrading to an SSD = the biggest speed boost possible.

Benefits:

faster boot
faster loading
less freezing
better multitasking

Even cheap SSDs make old computers feel new.

8. Add More RAM (Memory) 💾

Recommended RAM amounts in 2026:

8GB: minimum
16GB: ideal for most users
32GB+: gaming or creative apps

More RAM improves multitasking and reduces lag dramatically.

9. Update Windows & Drivers 🔧

Outdated systems = slower systems.

Update Windows:

Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates

Update GPU drivers:

NVIDIA
AMD
Intel

These updates often include performance optimizations.

10. Reset Your Browser 🌐

If websites lag or crash, your browser might be bloated.

Try:

resetting browser settings
disabling unused extensions
clearing cached data

Chrome, Edge, and Firefox can all slow down your entire system when overloaded.

11. Use Windows Reset as a Last Resort ♻️

If everything still feels sluggish:

Windows Reset gives you a fresh OS without deleting personal files.

Go to:
Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC

Choose:
Keep my files

Conclusion

Slow PC or laptop performance is almost always fixable.
Start with simple steps like restarting, closing heavy apps, and cleaning up storage.
Then move to deeper fixes like malware scans, overheating checks, and hardware upgrades.

With the right tweaks, your computer can run like new again — even in 2026. 💻⚡

How to Fix Your PC or Laptop When It’s Running Slow (2026 Guide)

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