Start by turning off automatic launch for apps you recognize and do not need when you sign in. In Windows 11 and Windows 10, use Settings or Task Manager to review startup apps; then check other common causes if the laptop remains slow. Disabling startup apps can reduce background activity, but it cannot fix every performance problem.
Turn off unnecessary startup apps
Apps that launch at sign-in can extend startup and keep using resources in the background. Microsoft puts it plainly: “Apps that run at startup can slow boot time and increase background usage.” Review the list and disable only apps you recognize and do not need immediately after signing in.
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Use Settings
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Startup.
- Turn off the toggle for an app you do not want to launch at sign-in. Leave essential or unfamiliar items enabled until you identify them.
Use Task Manager
- Right-click Start and open Task Manager.
- Select Startup apps.
- Select a recognized app, then choose Disable. To restore it later, select it and choose Enable.
Task Manager also shows a startup-impact label. Microsoft defines those labels using the app’s measured CPU and disk use at startup; they are not estimates of how many seconds your laptop will save.
- None: the startup app is disabled.
- Not Measured: no measurement is available for an enabled app.
- Low Impact: CPU use is less than 300 milliseconds and disk use is less than 292 kilobytes.
- Medium Impact: CPU use is between 300 milliseconds and 1 second, or disk use is between 292 kilobytes and 3 megabytes.
- High Impact: CPU use is more than 1 second or disk use is more than 3 megabytes.
These are Microsoft’s criteria for its labels, not a promise of a particular boot-time improvement. See Microsoft’s Startup apps guidance.
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If an app is not listed
Some apps are not registered as Windows startup tasks and may use a Startup folder shortcut instead. In File Explorer’s address bar, enter shell:startup for your user account or shell:common startup for all users. Identify a shortcut before removing it; do not delete unfamiliar files just to shorten startup.
If the laptop is still slow, check other causes
Startup apps are only one possible cause. Microsoft also identifies low storage, outdated software, and hardware that no longer meets current performance needs. Work through these checks before considering a reset or replacement.
Install Windows and driver updates
Open Start > Settings > Windows Update and install available updates. Also check for optional driver updates in Windows Update; driver availability and labels can vary by device.
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Check for malware
Open the Windows Security app, go to Virus & threat protection, and run a quick scan. Follow Windows Security’s instructions if it detects a threat.
Free storage and remove unused apps
Use Storage Sense or Windows cleanup tools to remove temporary files, and uninstall apps you no longer use. Review what will be deleted before confirming a cleanup, especially if you are unsure whether a file is needed.
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Limit background activity and inspect resource use
Where an app offers background-permission controls, restrict background activity for apps that do not need to run when you are not using them. In Task Manager, inspect CPU, memory, and disk use to see whether a particular app is consuming resources. Close apps and browser tabs you are not using, then check whether responsiveness improves.
Restart the laptop
If the slowdown persists after closing apps and checking updates, restart Windows. A restart can clear a temporary problem, though a recurring slowdown needs further diagnosis.
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Microsoft’s broader checklist is available in its Windows performance guidance.
Try power and visual settings only when appropriate
Choose a power mode
On supported devices, open Settings > System > Power & battery and select a power mode. Microsoft describes Best power efficiency as prioritizing battery life, Balanced as balancing performance and battery use, and Best performance as maximizing performance. Best performance may drain the battery faster, so it is a task-specific option, particularly when plugged in, rather than a universal setting. Some devices do not offer every mode; availability depends on hardware and manufacturer. Some Windows 10 PCs do not show this setting. Details: Microsoft’s power-mode instructions.
Reduce visual effects if needed
Windows visual effects can be adjusted if you want to prioritize responsiveness over animation and appearance. Treat this as an optional tradeoff: it changes how Windows looks and behaves, and does not address every cause of slowness. Microsoft includes visual effects among its performance adjustments.
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Use a clean boot only to isolate a suspected conflict
If the laptop became slow after installing software or changing services, a clean boot can help determine whether a startup app or service is contributing. It is an advanced diagnostic, not the first step for a routine slow boot, and Microsoft warns that it may temporarily remove some functionality.
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- Check whether the problem remains. If it disappears, re-enable items methodically to find the conflict. Microsoft recommends testing half the items at a time to reduce the number of restarts.
- When finished, restore normal startup and re-enable the items you disabled.
Consider recovery or replacement only after the checks
If software troubleshooting does not help, use Microsoft’s recovery options from least to most disruptive. Back up important files before recovery: some options can cause data loss, and Reset this PC is more disruptive than earlier choices. A reset is not a casual speed-up trick. See Microsoft’s Windows recovery options.
Older hardware can be the limiting factor. Microsoft notes that an older PC may not improve significantly after these steps and that upgrading the device may be the best long-term option in that situation. That does not establish that any particular laptop needs more memory, an SSD, or replacement; the right choice depends on its hardware and your needs.
Windows 10 support ended in 2025
Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. It no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Microsoft recommends moving to Windows 11, but that does not mean every laptop can run Windows 11; check the requirements for your specific device before planning an upgrade. Support details: Microsoft’s Windows 10 support notice.
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