How to Speed Up Your PC: Simple Steps That Actually Work

The fastest way to speed up your PC is to close programs running in the background, clear out old files, and restart your computer

Most slow computers are not broken—they are just overloaded. Your PC slows down when too many programs run at once, when your hard drive fills up, or when dust clogs the cooling fan. The good news is that you can fix most of these problems yourself in under an hour, without buying new hardware or paying someone else to do it.

Start with the simplest fix: restart your computer. This clears out temporary files and stops programs that have been running in the background. If that does not help, move to the steps below in order. Each one takes 10 to 20 minutes and builds on the last.

Key Takeaways

Restarting your PC clears temporary files and stops background programs, and should be your first step before trying anything else.
Disable startup programs in Task Manager so they do not load every time you turn on your computer.
Delete old files, empty your Recycle Bin, and run Disk Cleanup to free up hard drive space.
Update your drivers and Windows to patch security holes and fix performance bugs that slow your system down.
If your PC is still slow after these steps, a full restart of Windows or a hardware upgrade may be necessary.

Stop programs from running when you start your PC

Every program you install tries to load when Windows starts. Most of these do not need to run all the time. Disabling them frees up memory and makes your PC boot faster.

On Windows 10 or 11, right-click the taskbar at the bottom of your screen and select Task Manager. Click the Startup tab. You will see a list of programs with a Status column that says "Enabled" or "Disabled". Right-click any program you do not use regularly—Spotify, Discord, Slack, Adobe updates, printer software—and select Disable. Leave Windows Defender and your antivirus enabled. Restart your PC when you are done.

Do not disable anything you are unsure about. If you turn off something important, you can always turn it back on the same way.

Delete files you no longer need and empty your Recycle Bin

A full hard drive makes Windows slow because it has nowhere to write temporary files. If your drive is more than 90 percent full, your PC will feel sluggish even if nothing else is wrong.

Start by deleting files you know you do not need: old downloads, videos you have already watched, documents from years ago. Open File Explorer, go to your Downloads folder, and delete everything there. Then right-click your Recycle Bin on the desktop and select Empty Recycle Bin. This permanently removes the files and frees up space.

If you are not sure what to delete, use Disk Cleanup. Press the Windows key and type "Disk Cleanup", then open the program. Select your C: drive and click OK. Check the boxes next to Temporary files, Recycle Bin, and Temporary Internet Files, then click Delete Files. This removes junk files Windows no longer needs.

Update Windows and your drivers

Windows updates fix bugs that slow your PC down and patch security holes. Outdated drivers—the software that controls your graphics card, network card, and other hardware—can also cause slowdowns and crashes.

To update Windows, press the Windows key and type "Windows Update", then open Windows Update settings. Click Check for updates. If updates are available, Windows will read and install them. You may need to restart your PC. Let this finish before moving on.

To update drivers, press the Windows key and type "Device Manager", then open it. Look for any devices with a yellow warning triangle—these have outdated or broken drivers. Right-click the device and select Update driver, then choose Search automatically for updated driver software. If no warning triangles appear, your drivers are current.

Check your hard drive for errors

A damaged hard drive can slow your PC to a crawl. Windows includes a built-in tool to find and fix these problems.

Press the Windows key and type "Command Prompt". Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. Type this command and press Enter: chkdsk C: /F. Windows will ask if you want to schedule this check for the next restart. Type Y and press Enter. Restart your PC. The check will run before Windows loads—this takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on your drive size. Do not turn off your PC while it is running.

When the check finishes, Windows will load normally. If errors were found and fixed, your PC should feel faster.

Increase virtual memory if you have low RAM

If your PC has less than 8 gigabytes of RAM and you often see a message that says "low memory", you can create extra memory on your hard drive. This is slower than real RAM but better than nothing.

Press the Windows key and type "Advanced system settings", then open it. Click the Advanced tab. Under "Performance", click Settings. Click the Advanced tab again. Under "Virtual memory", click Change. Check the box that says Automatically manage paging file size for all drives, then click OK and restart your PC.

This is a temporary fix. If you regularly run out of memory, adding more RAM is the real solution.

Do a clean restart of Windows if nothing else works

If your PC is still slow after all these steps, Windows itself may be corrupted or clogged with files you cannot see. A clean restart removes everything and reinstalls Windows from scratch.

Back up any files you need to keep—copy them to an external drive or cloud storage. Press the Windows key and type "Reset this PC", then open it. Click Reset PC. Choose Keep my files to save your documents and photos, or Remove everything for a complete wipe. Windows will restart and reinstall itself. This takes 30 to 60 minutes. Do not turn off your PC during this process.

After the reset, reinstall your programs one at a time and disable startup programs again. Your PC should feel much faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much free space do I need on my hard drive?

Keep at least 10 to 15 percent of your drive free. If your drive is 500 gigabytes, that means 50 to 75 gigabytes should be empty. You can check this by opening File Explorer, right-clicking your C: drive, and selecting Properties. The bar at the bottom shows how much space is used and how much is free.

Will disabling startup programs break anything?

No. Disabling a startup program just means it will not load when Windows starts. You can still open it manually whenever you need it. If you disable something important by accident, you can turn it back on in Task Manager the same way you turned it off.

How often should I run Disk Cleanup?

Run it once a month or whenever your hard drive gets full. If you read a lot of files or watch videos, you may need to do it more often. The more space you keep free, the faster your PC will run.

What if my PC is still slow after restarting Windows?

The problem may be hardware. If your PC is more than five years old, the hard drive may be failing or the RAM may be wearing out. You can test this with free tools like CrystalDiskInfo for your hard drive or MemTest86 for your RAM. If either shows errors, replacement is the next step.

Is it safe to delete files from my Downloads folder?

Yes, if you have already used them. The Downloads folder is meant to be temporary storage. Once you have installed a program or opened a document, you can delete the original file. If you think you might need it again, move it to a folder you create for important files instead.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.