How to Speed Up an Old Computer Running Windows 10/11

Over time, computers can slow down due to outdated hardware, software clutter, and background processes consuming system resources. If your Windows 10 or 11 PC is running very slow or freezes frequently, you don’t necessarily need to replace it with a new one. With the right optimizations, you can significantly boost performance and extend the lifespan of your device. Here this article explores common reasons why Windows PC is slow or not responding, and various methods help speed up your old computer.

How to Speed up Windows PC

A Windows PC can become very slow due to a variety of reasons, including: low disk space, outdated software and drivers, too many programs running simultaneously, malware infections, insufficient RAM, and a failing hard drive are common.

Too Many Startup Programs – Many programs automatically start with Windows and consume unnecessary RAM and CPU resources. Over time, this can significantly slow down your system, especially if many unnecessary apps are running at boot.

Insufficient Disk Space – A nearly full hard drive can lead to slow performance as Windows struggles to manage temporary files and virtual memory. Lack of free space can also affect system updates and application performance.

Outdated or Failing Hardware – Older components like slow HDDs, insufficient RAM, or outdated processors struggle to keep up with modern applications, leading to overall system sluggishness.

Background Processes and Bloatware – Again if Many applications run in the background, it consumes CPU and memory. Some pre-installed software (bloatware) also takes up space and resources unnecessarily.

Overheating and Dust Accumulation – Also Poor ventilation and excessive dust buildup can cause overheating, leading to thermal throttling, where the CPU and GPU reduce their speed to prevent damage.

Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

Most commonly you may notice Windows Running very slow / Not responding at startup if there is a huge list of startup programs (apps that start along with the system). These startup apps slow down the bootup process and degrade the device’s performance. Disabling such apps speeds up the performance of the system and improves the overall responsiveness.

To Disable These Startup Programs:

1. Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager.
2. Then move to the Startup tab, to Display a list of startup programs.
3. If you see a program that doesn’t need to be there, right-click it and click Disable.

This prevents these applications from launching automatically when you start your PC, and improves windows boot times and overall performance.

Turn off Windows Tips and Suggestions

In an effort to be helpful, Windows 10 will sometimes give you tips on how to get the most out of the OS. It scans your computer in order to do this, a process that can have a slight impact on performance.

To turn off these tips and Suggestions:

1. Press the Keyboard shortcut Windows + I to Open Settings.
2. Click on System then Notifications & actions
3. Then toggle off Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows.

Disable Background Apps

Again Apps running in the background take system resources, heat up your PC and reduce its overall performance. That’s why it’s better to disable them to speed up Windows 10 performance and start them manually whenever you require them.

To Disable Background Running Apps on Windows 10:

• Open Settings and click on Privacy.
• Go to the last option in the left panel Background Apps.
• Here switch off toggles to turn off background apps you don’t need or use.

Disable Effects & Animations

Another reason for Windows running slow can be visual effects and animations that increase the burden on the system resources. In the latest PCs, visual effects and animations may not cause a huge impact on power and speed. However, in older PCs, these do play a role so turning them off is your best option to optimize the performance.

To disable visual effects and animations

• Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl and hit the enter key.
• Then move to the Advanced tab and click Settings under Performance.
• Next, under Visual Effects, choose the option Adjust for best performance

Note: you may also select Custom and uncheck all the checkboxes

Disable transparency

Having the taskbar, start menu, and action centre transparent can be good to your eyes, but the feature consumes some of the resources on your PC. You can disable transparency by visiting Settings > Personalization > Colors. Turn off the toggle button that says ” Make Start, taskbar, and action centre transparent.

Uninstall Unused Applications

Again the unnecessary installed unwanted software, aka bloatware is One of the biggest factors that slow down any Windows-based system. They use unnecessary disk space, use system resources that cause Windows to run slow. That’s why Removing such apps boosts the system’s performance, especially if you download lots of programs but don’t or rarely use them.

 To remove bloatware or unused apps:

• Press the Windows key + S type control panel and select the first result
• Click on Programs and open Programs and Features. 
• Select Uninstall/Change to remove unwanted programs, one at a time.
• Follow the instructions in the uninstall dialogue boxes to uninstall the software.

Run Performance Monitor

Windows 10 has a useful real-time performance monitoring tool called Performance Monitor. It details system and hardware resources, performance issues and services, and also suggests solutions for the listed problems.

To check and monitor system performance:

• Click on the Start menu type performance monitor and hit the enter key.
• Then select the last option Reports on the left > System > System Diagnostics option.
• The tool will work on your request and gather all the information about your system and produce a detailed performance report.
• Do look at the Warnings section to find the issues present on your PC.
• Check their descriptions, use Windows 10’s Troubleshooter or search the web for their solution.

Optimize Virtual Memory

Virtual memory is a software-level optimization for improving the responsiveness of any system. The operating system uses virtual memory whenever it’s short of actual memory (RAM). Though Windows 10 manages this setting, yet configuring it manually gives much better results.

To manually optimize Virtual memory:

• Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl and hit the enter key.
• On System, properties move to the Advanced tab and click Settings under Performance.
• On performance, options move to the Advanced tab and click on the Change button under Virtual Memory.
• A new virtual memory window appears, uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
• Select the C: drive and then click the radio button for Custom size.
• Then set the Initial size (MB) to the size of your RAM and Maximum size (MB) to double the size of your RAM

(for ex., if the size of the RAM is 4GB, set the initial size to 4000 MB and the maximum size to 8000 MB).

• Click the Set button and then OK (and restart when asked for)

Optimize Windows Power Settings

The ‘High Performance’ mode in Power options helps you make the best out of your PC. The CPU can utilize its full potential, while the high-performance mode prevents various components like hard drives, WiFi cards, etc. from going into power-saving states.

• Open Control Panel > Power Options.
• Select High Performance (Note: This may use more battery on laptops).
• If you’re using a laptop, keep it plugged in for better performance.

Clean Up Disk Space

Windows relies on free disk space to store temporary files and manage system processes. A nearly full disk can slow down your computer as Windows struggles to allocate virtual memory efficiently. Keeping at least 15-20% of your storage free ensures smooth performance.

• Open Settings > Storage.
• Click Temporary files and remove unnecessary items such as old Windows updates, cached files, and recycle bin contents.
• Use Disk Cleanup by searching for it in the Start menu and selecting system files to clean.
• Consider transferring large media files to an external drive or cloud storage.

Update Drivers and Windows

Drivers are essential for ensuring that hardware components function correctly. Outdated drivers can cause inefficiencies, hardware malfunctions, and slow performance. Keeping your system updated improves security, stability, and speed.

• Open Settings > Windows Update and install available updates.
• Update drivers via Device Manager or by downloading the latest versions from the manufacturer’s website.
• Focus on critical drivers like graphics, chipsets, and network drivers.

Disable Search Indexing

Search indexing improves the search tool’s responses and speeds up searching in Windows 10. It weakens the performance, however, as it runs in the background and utilizes a lot of system resources. Owing to this reason, if you do searches occasionally, then it’s best to disable it.

To disable search indexing,

• Press Win + R, type services.msc and hit the enter key.
• On Windows, services scroll down and look for service named windows search
• Double-click on it to open its properties
• Here change the Startup type to manual or Disabled
• Then stop the service next to service status. Do the same with

Disable Sync Feature

Windows 10 syncs many things like passwords, browser settings, system and language preferences etc. with your Microsoft account. Consequently, this feature consumes system resources and bandwidth of your web connection. So, consider disabling the sync feature, if you don’t need it, as it helps improve the performance.

To disable the Sync feature on a Windows 10 PC,

1. Click on the Start > Settings > Accounts option
2. In the left pane, select the last option Sync your settings
3. Toggle off the Sync settings

Repair Corrupt System Files and Disk Errors

Corrupt system files and disk errors can slow down performance and cause system instability. Running built-in Windows repair tools can help restore missing or damaged files.

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Run sfc /scannow to scan and repair corrupt system files.
• Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to fix deeper system issues.
• Run chkdsk /f /r to scan and repair disk errors.

Upgrade Hardware Components

If software optimizations don’t provide enough speed improvements, consider upgrading your hardware. Adding more RAM, replacing a slow HDD with an SSD, or upgrading the CPU can make a significant difference in performance.

• Upgrade to an SSD: Replacing an HDD with an SSD significantly improves boot and load times.
• Increase RAM: Adding more RAM helps with multitasking and improves system responsiveness.
• Replace Thermal Paste: Overheating due to old thermal paste on the CPU can reduce performance; replacing it can help with cooling.
• Check CPU and GPU Performance: Older processors and graphics cards may need an upgrade for modern applications.

Also Read :

• How to configure and setup FTP server on Windows 10
• Fix DNS probe finished nxdomain error on Google Chrome
• Reset Network Settings on Windows 10 update
• [Fix] DNS Server not Responding On Windows 10/11
• Fix Windows Store Problems Not Working, Won’t Open or Crashes