Your new computer is slow because of background processes, bloatware, or settings that need adjustment—not because the hardware is broken
A new computer that feels sluggish usually has nothing to do with a defect. Instead, Windows or macOS is running dozens of programs you did not ask for, your storage is nearly full from the factory, or power settings are throttling performance to save battery. The good news: most of these problems take minutes to fix, and you do not need technical knowledge to do it.
The slowness you feel is real. It shows up as lag when you open a browser, delays when you click an icon, or a spinning wheel that lasts longer than it should. But the computer's processor and memory are almost certainly fine. The problem is what is running on top of them.
Key Takeaways
- New computers often ship with bloatware—programs the manufacturer installed that run in the background and consume memory and processing power.
- Windows and macOS both run automatic updates, indexing, and cloud sync services that can slow a new machine for the first few hours or days after setup.
- Checking Task Manager on Windows or Activity Monitor on Mac shows you exactly which programs are using the most resources right now.
- Disabling startup programs, clearing temporary files, and checking your storage space can restore speed without buying new hardware.
- If slowness persists after these steps, a malware scan or a fresh Windows reinstall may be necessary, but this is rarely the first cause.
Bloatware and manufacturer programs are eating your resources
Most new computers arrive with software you never installed and probably do not want. Dell, HP, Lenovo, and other manufacturers pre-load their machines with trial versions of antivirus software, cloud storage services, system utilities, and promotional programs. These run in the background, consuming memory and processing power even when you are not using them.
On Windows, you can see what is running by opening Task Manager. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, click the Processes tab, and look at the Memory and CPU columns. Programs at the top of the list are using the most resources. If you see unfamiliar names—McAfee, Norton, Avast, Lenovo Vantage, or Dell SupportAssist—those are likely bloatware.
On Mac, open Activity Monitor (search for it in Spotlight), click the Memory tab, and sort by memory usage. Look for programs you do not recognize or did not install yourself.
Removing bloatware is straightforward. On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find the program you want to remove, click it, and select Uninstall. On Mac, drag the program from Applications to the Trash, or use the uninstaller that came with it. Start with the antivirus trials—Windows Defender (built into Windows) is free and sufficient for most users, so you do not need McAfee or Norton.
Windows and macOS are running setup tasks in the background
When you first turn on a new computer, the operating system spends hours indexing your files, downloading updates, and syncing settings to the cloud. This happens in the background, and it can make the machine feel sluggish for the first day or two. You may see high disk usage or CPU usage even when you are not doing anything.
This is normal and temporary. If your computer is brand new, leave it plugged in and idle for a few hours—or overnight—and let these tasks finish. You will notice a significant speed improvement once they are done.
You can check what is running by opening Task Manager on Windows and looking at the Disk column, or Activity Monitor on Mac and looking at the Disk tab. If you see Windows Update, Antimalware Service Executable, or Spotlight (on Mac) using high resources, that is the setup process at work. Do not interrupt it.
Your startup programs are loading every time you boot
Many programs are set to launch automatically when you start your computer. Some are essential—your antivirus, for example—but others are not. Each one that loads adds seconds to your startup time and consumes memory while it runs.
On Windows, open Task Manager, click the Startup tab, and you will see a list of programs set to launch at boot. Look for anything you do not use regularly. Right-click it and select Disable. Common culprits include Spotify, Adobe Creative Cloud, Slack, and various manufacturer utilities. Disabling them does not uninstall them—you can still open them manually whenever you want.
On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Login Items and remove programs you do not need to launch at startup. The same rule applies: disabling is not uninstalling.
Your storage is nearly full, which slows everything down
When your hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD) is more than 80 percent full, the operating system has less room to work with, and performance drops noticeably. New computers sometimes ship with large recovery partitions or trial software that takes up significant space, leaving you with less usable storage than you expected.
Check your storage on Windows by opening Settings > System > Storage. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, and click Storage. If you are above 80 percent, you need to free up space.
Start by deleting temporary files. On Windows, open Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files and select what you want to delete—usually safe to remove all of it. On Mac, empty the Trash and consider moving large files (videos, photos, backups) to an external drive or cloud storage. If you still need more space, uninstall programs you do not use.
Power settings are limiting your performance
Some new computers ship with power-saving settings enabled, which throttles the processor to extend battery life. This makes the machine feel slower than it should, especially on laptops.
On Windows, right-click the battery icon in the system tray and select Power settings. Look for the current power plan. If it says Power saver or Balanced, switch to High performance. This will use more battery on a laptop, but the computer will run at full speed.
On Mac, go to System Settings > Battery (or Energy Saver on older versions) and check the settings. Mac does not have a "high performance" mode like Windows, but you can disable Low Power Mode if it is on.
Malware or viruses are running in the background
If you have tried the steps above and your computer is still slow, malware is a possibility—though less common on new machines than on older ones. Malware consumes resources, steals data, and can make your computer nearly unusable.
Run a full scan with Windows Defender (built into Windows) or your Mac's built-in security tools. On Windows, open Windows Security, click Virus & threat protection, and select Scan options. Choose Full scan and let it run—this can take an hour or more. On Mac, malware is less common, but you can run a scan with your antivirus software if you have installed one.
If a scan finds threats, remove them and restart your computer. If slowness persists after removal, consider a fresh Windows reinstall, which wipes the drive and starts over. This is a last resort, but it solves almost every software-related slowness problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I return my new computer if it is slow?
Not yet. Most slowness on new computers is fixable in under an hour by removing bloatware, disabling startup programs, and clearing temporary files. Try these steps first. If the computer is still slow after a full day of idle time and you have removed bloatware, then contact the manufacturer or retailer about a return or replacement.
Is it normal for a new computer to be slow for the first few days?
Yes. Windows and macOS run background setup tasks, updates, and indexing when you first set up a machine. This can last anywhere from a few hours to a full day. Slowness during this period is expected and will improve once these tasks finish.
Will disabling startup programs break anything?
No. Disabling a startup program only prevents it from launching automatically—you can still open it manually whenever you want. The only programs you should leave enabled are your antivirus and any security software you actually use.
What is the difference between uninstalling and disabling a program?
Uninstalling removes the program entirely from your computer and frees up storage space. Disabling (in the Startup tab) only prevents it from launching at boot, but the program remains installed. For bloatware you will never use, uninstall. For programs you might use occasionally, disable the startup entry instead.
Can a full hard drive cause slowness even if I have plenty of RAM?
Yes. When your drive is nearly full, the operating system has less room to create temporary files and cache data, which slows down everything. Even with plenty of RAM, a full drive will make your computer feel sluggish. Aim to keep at least 20 percent of your drive free.