- Checking software, Windows startup, and disk space is key to restoring speed to slow computers.
- Optimizing visual effects, power, and memory (RAM and virtual) greatly improves overall performance.
- An SSD and a good physical cleaning of the equipment can transform an old PC into a fast machine.
- Keeping Windows, drivers, and security up to date prevents slowdowns caused by errors and malware.
Over time, it's normal for a Windows computer to gradually slow down : it takes forever to boot up, opening programs becomes a nightmare, and even simple tasks seem to push the system to its limits. Before assuming it's time to retire it, it's worth checking a few key points, because in many cases you can restore almost all of its original speed without spending much money.
The idea is that you can apply the improvements gradually, from the simplest to the most advanced , testing them one by one and stopping when you see that the computer is responding as you want. We'll start with cleaning up programs and files, continue with Windows settings (startup, power, visual effects, virtual memory, updates), and finish with hardware solutions such as upgrading to an SSD , increasing RAM, or cleaning the inside of the computer to prevent overheating . Everything is explained in clear language and using Spanish expressions, so anyone can do it at home without too much trouble.
Basic habits to prevent your PC from slowing down
Before we delve into more technical settings, it's important to understand that usage habits significantly impact computer speed . You can get it running perfectly today, but if you abuse it daily, it will slow down again in just a few weeks.
It's recommended that you get into the habit of completely closing programs you're not using instead of leaving them minimized. Browsers, office suites, chat apps, and games accumulate background processes that consume RAM and CPU even when you're not interacting with them.
It also helps a lot to shut down your computer at the end of the day instead of leaving it in sleep mode . A clean shutdown and boot clears memory, closes stuck services, and prevents small errors from accumulating and making the system unstable and sluggish.
Another simple step is to empty the Recycle Bin regularly , especially if you frequently delete large files (videos, high-resolution images, installers, etc.). Even though they're in the Recycle Bin, they still take up disk space, and a very full hard drive becomes especially slow.
On modern computers running Windows 10 or 11, installing resource-intensive third-party antivirus programs that duplicate features is not a good idea . Windows Defender (now Windows Security) is more than sufficient for most users and consumes fewer resources than huge suites full of extras that offer little to no benefit.
Finally, it's a good idea to physically clean the dust from inside your computer tower or laptop from time to time . Dirty fans and heatsinks cause the computer to overheat, and when the temperature spikes, the processor and graphics card automatically reduce their frequency, resulting in a significant drop in performance. If you'd like to learn more about maintenance and care that extends the life of your PC , this is a good complement to this cleaning.
Uninstall programs and applications you don't use
One of the most common reasons Windows gets slower is accumulating lots of programs you no longer use . Many of them start background services, add scheduled tasks, or sneak into system startup, constantly consuming resources.
In Windows 10 and Windows 11, it's very easy to remove software you no longer need from the modern settings . Just open the Start menu, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps (or "Apps & features" depending on the version), and carefully review the list.
When you see a program you don't need, click on it and then click Uninstall to completely remove it from your system . Avoid touching applications you don't recognize, especially if they're from Microsoft or your computer manufacturer, as they are often necessary for some components to function correctly.
This process also applies to games, launchers, and one-off utilities that you installed "just to try them out" and then left uninstalled. Uninstalling them will free up disk space and reduce background processes , which is especially noticeable on computers with limited RAM.
Keep your desk as clean as possible
The Windows desktop is very tempting for leaving shortcuts, folders, and loose files, but if you fill it to the brim, system startup becomes slower . Each icon is a graphical element that Windows has to draw and manage at login.
It's not about deleting everything, but about organizing your documents into folders within the usual libraries (Documents, Pictures, Downloads…) and leaving on the Desktop only what you really need to have on hand those days.
A simple trick is to create a single folder on your Desktop, something like "Pending" or "In Progress," and put all the files and shortcuts you usually use in the short term inside it . This way, you'll see very few icons, and startup will be somewhat faster, especially on older machines.
Control which programs start with Windows
Another source of slow PC startup is programs that open automatically every time you log in . Messaging clients, gaming platforms, music services, synchronization tools… if they all run at the same time, startup can take minutes.
To keep it under control, open Task Manager . You can do this with the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc or Ctrl + Alt + Delete and then selecting "Task Manager". If you see the simplified version, click on More details to view all the tabs.
Go to the Startup tab (in Windows 11 it may be called "Startup apps") and review the list of programs configured to launch with your system . Pay particular attention to the Status (Enabled/Disabled) and Startup Impact (Low, Medium, High) columns . If you want advanced startup control tools, Autoruns is an option for experienced users.
Select all the applications you don't need when you turn on your computer and click Disable to prevent them from running automatically . You're not uninstalling them; you'll simply open them manually when you need them. You'll notice the difference, especially on computers with modest processors and mechanical hard drives.
Check that the computer is free of viruses and malware
A PC can become unbearably slow because it has malware consuming CPU, memory, or bandwidth in the background . Cryptocurrency miners, adware, toolbars, suspicious browser extensions, or Trojans can all be running without you noticing.
Windows 10 and 11 include Windows Security (formerly Windows Defender) , which offers a very respectable level of protection without significantly impacting performance. To open it, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security and click Open Windows Security.
Inside, go to Virus & threat protection and click on Quick scan to perform a basic check of the most critical areas of your system . If you want to go deeper, go to "Scan options" and run a full scan or an offline scan, which restarts your PC and checks the system before Windows loads.
As an occasional supplement, you can use specialized tools like Malwarebytes or AdwCleaner to locate adware and potentially unwanted software . Run them, remove what they detect, and get rid of any suspicious browser extensions. If malware was hogging resources, your computer will run much more smoothly.
Free up space on your hard drive with safe tools
When a hard disk drive (HDD) is too full, Windows takes longer to read and write data , and everything becomes slower: from opening folders to copying files. That's why it's a good idea to clean it up from time to time.
Instead of going crazy with aggressive third-party programs, you can use the Disk Cleanup tool built into Windows . Press Start and type cleanmgr in the search bar; that tool will appear. Run it, ideally as administrator.
First, you'll need to choose the drive you want to clean (usually C:). Then, Windows will analyze which types of files can be safely deleted: temporary files, caches, thumbnails, memory dumps, etc. This calculation can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, depending on the amount of accumulated junk.
When it's finished, you'll see a list of available categories and the space you'll save by selecting each one . When you select a category, the system will explain what will be deleted. Select the items you want, click OK , and confirm when it asks if you're sure you want to delete those files.
If you want a more advanced cleanup and you know what you're doing, tools like CCleaner can help you delete temporary files and debris , but it's advisable to avoid aggressive adjustments or messing with the Windows Registry unnecessarily, because you can mess things up without gaining much real performance.
Defragment the mechanical hard drive (if it's not an SSD)
In traditional hard drives, files are stored in small pieces scattered across different areas of the magnetic platter. Over time, this makes reading less efficient because the read/write head has to jump from one area to another . This phenomenon is called fragmentation.
To reorganize these fragments and speed up data access, Windows includes a drive defragmentation and optimization tool . Type "defragment" in the Start menu and open "Defragment and Optimize Drives".
Select the mechanical hard drive you want to improve and click Analyze so Windows can tell you the current fragmentation status . Depending on the percentage, it may recommend optimizing it or not.
If you decide to continue, click Optimize and let the process complete . It may take a while, especially if it hasn't been done in a long time or if the disk is very large, but you will notice some resource consumption during this time. Modern SSDs don't need to defragment, as they use a different type of automatic optimization.
Configure Windows virtual memory better
When RAM runs out, Windows uses an area of the hard drive called the paging file or virtual memory . Reading and writing to it is much slower than in RAM, but it's preferable to the system running out of memory and crashing.
In some cases, especially if you have limited physical RAM, manually adjusting the virtual memory size can help . To do this, open Settings, go to System > About , and tap Advanced system settings (in the right or bottom panel).
In the classic window that opens, go to the Advanced tab and click on Settings within the Performance section . Another new window with several tabs will open; go back to "Advanced."
In the Virtual Memory section , click Change to edit the paging file . First, uncheck "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives." Then, select the desired drive and set an initial and maximum size in MB, slightly larger than the default Windows size.
As a guideline, you can increase the RAM allocation by 1000 or 2000 MB compared to the automatic value if you have limited RAM . It's not a magic bullet, but it helps give the system more headroom when you open many applications simultaneously.
Adjust the power plan to prioritize performance
Windows usually comes configured with a power plan that balances energy consumption and performance , which is fine for most users. But if your computer is particularly slow and you don't mind it using a little more power, you can force a more aggressive power mode.
In the classic Control Panel (find it in Start), go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options . There you'll see the available plans. If you don't see them all, click Show additional plans.
Many computers have a High Performance option . Select it so the processor and other components don't reduce their frequency as much to save energy . You'll especially notice the difference on laptops plugged into a power outlet.
Keep in mind that doing this will increase battery consumption and cause your laptop to run a bit warmer . This is a useful adjustment if your computer is running on fumes or if you use it for demanding tasks (editing, gaming, working with multiple windows) and leave it plugged in most of the time.
Reduce visual effects and disable animations
For years, Windows has incorporated transitions, shadows, transparencies, and animations to make the interface more visually appealing. All of this is great on modern computers, but on machines with limited resources, it can become a hindrance.
To remove these decorations, open the Advanced System Settings window > Advanced Options > Settings (under Performance). On the Visual Effects tab, you'll see a list of all enabled effects.
The quickest way to lighten your system is to select "Adjust for best performance ," which disables virtually all effects. If that seems too drastic, you can remove only the ones you consider unnecessary, such as window minimize and maximize animations, shadows under menus, or the fade-out effect. For specific guides on how to disable these effects and improve startup, see this guide.
Additionally, you can remove transparency from the interface by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors and unchecking the "Transparency effects" option. It's a slight aesthetic change, but it helps to reduce the load on the integrated graphics.
Silence notifications and unnecessary processes
Constant notifications from apps, email, social media, and the system itself are not only distracting: they often involve resident processes that remain active to alert you immediately of any updates.
To speed things up, go to Settings > System > Notifications . There you can, if you wish, directly disable the main Notifications switch so that Windows stops displaying alerts.
If you prefer to fine-tune things, scroll down a bit and configure each app individually to specify which ones can send you notifications and which ones can't . Don't hesitate to disable anything that isn't important to you (games, promotions, tools you rarely use, etc.). Fewer things running means more resources for what you really care about.
Update Windows and hardware drivers
Another possible reason why the computer feels sluggish is that you are using an older version of Windows or outdated drivers that carry known bugs, power management problems, or compatibility issues.
To check your system, go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates so Windows can download and install the latest available versions . These often include stability and performance improvements, as well as security patches.
In that same section, if optional updates appear , take a look at them, because some correspond to new drivers for components like the graphics card, sound card, or chipset . They tend to be less critical, but sometimes they fix specific performance issues.
To go a step further, it's recommended to download updated drivers from the official websites of the manufacturers (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, etc.) for the graphics card and from the website of your computer or motherboard manufacturer for the rest of the components. Many brands offer tools and software from the manufacturer that centralizes these updates.
Limit background services and processes
On a Windows system installed years ago, it's common to find services running in the background without you even remembering why you set them up . Many belong to programs you no longer use or components that are no longer connected.
From Task Manager , on the Processes tab , you can sort by CPU, memory, or disk usage and identify which applications are hogging resources . Sometimes simply uninstalling the problematic app or checking its settings is enough to stop it from running continuously. If you see system-related processes you don't understand, documentation like Task Host 's can help you identify and resolve common errors.
In the Services tab of Task Manager, you'll also see active services. Be extra careful here, because stopping system services or critical drivers can cause problems . Only disable services you know exactly what they are, or look up their names online before doing anything.
Prevent overheating: clean fans and improve cooling
One factor that many people overlook is temperature. When the processor or graphics card overheats, the hardware itself automatically reduces its frequency to prevent overheating . This is known as "throttling" or thermal throttling, and it causes very noticeable performance drops.
If you notice your PC is getting very noisy, your laptop is overheating on the bottom, or games start out smoothly and then slow down , there's probably a heat problem. It's time to check the inside.
Turn off the computer, unplug it from the power outlet, and, in the case of a desktop, open the side panel to access the fans and heatsinks . Use compressed air to remove dust from the vents, the CPU fan, the power supply, and, if you have one, the graphics card.
With laptops, things are a bit more complicated, because you often have to remove the bottom cover to access the cooling system . If you're not comfortable opening it, it's best to take it to a repair shop to have the fans cleaned and even the thermal paste replaced if the laptop is older.
A good cleaning, along with improvements to the tower's airflow (for example, by adding a front and rear fan) , can make a huge difference in how the computer performs under load.
Restore Windows to its fresh installation state.
If, after applying all these optimizations, you still notice the system is sluggish, you might need to consider a clean reinstallation of Windows . Over time, the original installation becomes cluttered with leftover programs, old settings, and minor bugs that sometimes can only be fixed by starting from scratch.
In Windows 11 (and also in Windows 10) you have a built-in option to do this without needing to download anything extra. Go to Settings > System > Recovery and click on Reset this PC.
A wizard will open offering two options: keep your personal files or remove everything . If your computer is running particularly poorly, choosing "Remove everything" is usually more effective to also delete legacy programs and settings.
Before you start, make sure you back up your important documents, photos, videos, and work projects . You can use an external drive, the cloud, or both, but don't begin until you're certain you won't lose anything essential.
If you want to go even further, you can always create an installation USB drive using the official Microsoft tool , boot from it, and format the drive for a completely clean installation. It's a slightly longer process, but it truly leaves the system "like new." If you end up upgrading components or your entire computer, this guide to improving PC performance will be helpful after the installation.
Upgrade your hardware: SSD, RAM, and more
Sometimes, no matter how much you optimize Windows, the bottleneck lies in the hardware itself . If your computer is a few years old, it might have an outdated mechanical hard drive or very little RAM, and in those cases, software improvements fall short.
Upgrading from HDD to SSD: the most amazing upgrade
Upgrading from a mechanical hard drive (HDD) to a solid-state drive (SSD) is, without exaggeration, the upgrade that most significantly transforms a computer's perceived speed . The system boots in seconds, programs open almost instantly, and everything feels much more responsive.
There are two main types of SSDs: 2,5-inch SATA drives , which connect like a conventional hard drive and offer speeds of around 500 MB/s, and NVMe M.2 drives , which are plugged into the motherboard and can reach several thousand MB/s if your computer supports them.
Even in older computers, replacing the HDD with a SATA SSD literally gives them a second life . Many computers that seemed destined for the junkyard start working perfectly with this simple upgrade, which is often cheaper than buying a new PC.
Expand RAM
RAM is where the system and applications load the data they are currently using . If it runs out, Windows starts using the hard drive as backup, which causes lag and frequent freezes.
Today, for basic use with Windows 10/11 (browsing, office applications, video, social media), 8 GB of RAM is considered the minimum reasonable amount . For intensive multitasking, with many documents and dozens of browser tabs open, 16 GB offers a much more comfortable experience.
If your computer only has 4 GB of RAM, seriously consider upgrading to at least 8 GB . You can check how much RAM you have and how much you're using in Task Manager, under the Performance tab, Memory section . If your RAM usage is almost always at the limit, adding more will be a huge help.
Laptops typically use SO-DIMM modules (DDR4 or DDR5 depending on the generation) , while desktops use conventional DIMM modules. Before buying anything, check how many free slots you have and what type and speed of memory your motherboard supports. If you're unsure, it's a good idea to ask for help from a trusted repair shop or service center. To determine when it's best to upgrade your computer or components, also consult our guide on how to identify system bottlenecks.
Other components and when it's worth changing equipment
If you use your computer for gaming or video and 3D editing, the graphics card can also be a key factor in performance . Upgrading to a more modern and efficient model makes a huge difference in these cases, although it does represent a more significant investment.
Even so, if your computer is more than ten years old and was a very basic model at the time , even a combination of SSD and RAM upgrades might not bring it up to current standards. At that point, it's worth crunching the numbers and considering whether it wouldn't be better to save up for a new machine with a modern foundation. If your goal is to build a gaming PC without spending too much, this guide to choosing a budget gaming PC can help you out.
Advanced settings and BIOS/UEFI
In some specific cases, you can shave off a few extra seconds of response time by tweaking certain BIOS or UEFI settings . These include configurations such as fast boot mode, processor power management, and memory parameters.
To enter the BIOS/UEFI, you usually need to press a specific key (Delete, F2, F10, etc.) as soon as you turn on your PC . A brief message will normally appear on the initial screen indicating this, although on modern laptops it happens so quickly that you have to pay attention.
Within that menu, some manufacturers offer performance profiles or optimized modes for the system . Activating them is usually safe, but it's not advisable to change advanced parameters you don't understand, as this can cause instability or even prevent the computer from starting.
If you're not familiar with these settings, it's best to stick to what Windows offers in terms of power and performance and leave the BIOS to a technician or someone with experience.
With all these measures, from basic habits to memory adjustments, thorough cleaning, Windows optimization, and possible hardware upgrades, it's entirely possible for a computer that seemed on its last legs to function smoothly again for work, study, or reasonable gaming ; and if it still falls short, at least you'll have a clear idea of which parts you need to upgrade or if it's time to make the leap to a new machine.
