Why Is Windows 11 So Slow? 9 Fixes That Actually Work
If Windows 11 feels slower than the day you got it, you’re not imagining it. Over time, background apps, a full drive, and leftover software quietly drag performance down. The good news is that most slowdowns are easy to fix yourself — here are nine that actually work.
9 fixes that actually work
1. Turn off unnecessary startup apps. Many programs launch at boot and slow everything down. Go to Settings > Apps > Startup and switch off anything you don’t need the moment your PC turns on, like game launchers or chat apps. Keep your antivirus on.
2. Uninstall programs you never use. Old software takes up space and sometimes runs background services. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, sort by size, and remove anything you don’t recognize or haven’t opened in months.
3. Switch your power mode to Best performance. Laptops often ship in a balanced or power-saver mode. Go to Settings > System > Power & battery, and set Power mode to Best performance. Your battery will drain faster, but everything will feel snappier.
4. Free up disk space with Storage Sense. A nearly full drive slows Windows down. Go to Settings > System > Storage and turn on Storage Sense, which automatically clears temporary files. You can also click Temporary files and delete what’s safe to remove.
5. Reduce visual effects. Transparency and animations look nice but cost performance on older machines. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects and turn off Transparency effects and Animation effects.
6. Install pending Windows updates. Microsoft regularly ships performance fixes. Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install everything it finds, then restart when prompted.
7. Scan for malware. A virus or unwanted miner can eat your CPU in the background. Open Windows Security from the Start menu, go to Virus & threat protection, and run a Quick scan. Remove anything it flags.
8. Find what’s hogging resources. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, click the CPU or Memory column to sort, and see which app is using the most. If a program you don’t need is eating 80% of your CPU, that’s your culprit — close it or uninstall it.
9. Restart your PC properly. Sleep mode isn’t a real restart. Click Start > Power > Restart at least once a week. This clears stuck processes and memory leaks that build up over days of use.
The bottom line
Start with startup apps, storage cleanup, and the power mode setting — those three fix most slow PCs in under ten minutes. If it’s still sluggish after all nine, your drive may be failing or the hardware is simply too old, and that’s the point to consider a repair shop or an upgrade.