TL;DR: To speed up Windows 11, start with the free fixes Microsoft itself recommends: install Windows and optional driver updates, disable startup apps in Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc > Startup apps), run Storage Sense, uninstall apps you don’t use and switch Power mode to Best performance when you’re plugged in. Those steps cost nothing and are fully reversible. If your PC still crawls with 8 GB of RAM or a spinning hard drive, a memory or SSD upgrade will do more than any tweak, and you can skip “PC booster” apps and registry cleaners entirely.
Last updated: November 12, 2026. By Veer. Checked against Microsoft’s support articles “Tips to improve PC performance in Windows” and “Windows 11 system requirements”. This is a researched guide built from official documentation, not a hands-on benchmark of every tweak.
A slow Windows 11 PC is rarely a mystery. In its own performance guide, Microsoft says a Windows device may run slowly because of “limited storage space, too many startup apps running in the background, outdated software, or hardware that no longer meets modern performance needs.” Every fix below targets one of those four causes. Work through them in order: the first five solve most slowdowns, and none of them needs extra software.
How to speed up Windows 11: the quick answer
The fastest wins are cutting startup apps, freeing disk space and installing pending updates. Microsoft recommends trying all of its listed fixes, because several small problems usually stack up, and it notes that older PCs with outdated hardware “may not see significant improvements” from software changes alone.
Here’s the full list at a glance:
| # | Fix | Where to find it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Install updates + optional drivers | Settings > Windows Update | Bugs, driver issues |
| 2 | Disable startup apps | Task Manager > Startup apps | Slow boot |
| 3 | Free up disk space | Settings > System > Storage | Nearly full drive |
| 4 | Uninstall unused apps | Settings > Apps > Installed apps | Clutter, background load |
| 5 | Set Power mode to Best performance | Settings > System > Power & battery | Sluggish when plugged in |
| 6 | Stop background apps | Installed apps > Advanced options | Constant background activity |
| 7 | Adjust visual effects | “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows” | Older or low-end PCs |
| 8 | Run a malware scan | Windows Security > Virus & threat protection | Sudden, unexplained slowdowns |
| 9 | Optimize drives | Defragment and Optimize Drives | Hard drives (HDD) |
| 10 | Find heavy processes | Task Manager > Processes / Performance | High CPU, memory or disk use |
| 11 | Trim notifications | Settings > System > Notifications | Distraction, minor load |
| 12 | Close apps and restart | Start > Power > Restart | Long uptime, too many tabs |
Source: Microsoft Support.
1. Install Windows updates and optional driver updates
Updates often include fixes and performance improvements, so this is the first thing Microsoft lists. Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates and install anything waiting.
Then check the step most people miss: Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates. That’s where Windows parks non-critical driver updates, such as graphics, chipset or Wi-Fi drivers, which can fix stutters on specific hardware. If you want to know what this month’s patches changed, our November 2026 Patch Tuesday breakdown covers the latest cumulative update.
2. Disable startup apps to speed up boot time
Every app that launches at sign-in adds to boot time and keeps running in the background. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, pick Startup apps in the left menu, right-click anything you don’t need right away and choose Disable.
Good candidates are game launchers, chat apps you rarely use, printer and update helpers, and cloud tools you only open now and then. Keep your security software and touchpad or audio drivers. Disabling an entry doesn’t uninstall anything; the app still works when you open it yourself, and you can re-enable it later.
3. Free up disk space with Storage Sense
A drive close to full slows the whole system. Open Settings > System > Storage, then:
- Select Storage Sense > Run Storage Sense now to clear temporary files automatically.
- Open Temporary files, tick what you want gone and select Remove files.
- For older leftovers, search Start for Disk Cleanup and pick the drive.
Be careful with the Downloads folder in the Temporary files list, since it can contain things you still want. We walk through all ten safe options in How to Free Up Storage on Windows 11.
4. Uninstall apps you don’t use
Removing apps frees space and cuts background activity at the same time. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find the app, select the … (More options) button and choose Uninstall.
Pay special attention to preinstalled trial software and duplicate tools: a second antivirus, extra “optimizer” utilities or old manufacturer helpers. Two real-time antivirus products fighting each other is a classic cause of a slow PC. If you’re wondering whether you need a paid suite at all, see Is Windows Defender Enough in 2026?
5. Set Power mode to Best performance
Windows balances speed against battery life by default. When you need full speed, go to Settings > System > Power & battery and set Power mode to Best performance.
Microsoft is clear about the trade-off: this setting increases power consumption, and on laptops it “will drain the battery more quickly and may cause the device to run warmer.” A sensible habit is Best performance when plugged in and the balanced default on battery. If battery life is already a worry, check its condition with our guide to checking laptop battery health on Windows 11.
6. Turn off background apps
Some apps keep working even after you close them. To stop one, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select … > Advanced options and under Background app permissions set Let this app run in the background to Never.
Not every app shows this option; it appears for apps that support background permissions. Leave it on for things that need to notify you, such as your email or calendar.
7. Adjust visual effects for best performance
Animations, shadows and transparency look nice but cost resources, which matters most on older or low-end machines. Search Start for Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, open the Visual Effects tab and choose Adjust for best performance.
That turns off everything at once, including smooth font edges, which can make text look rough. A good middle ground is choosing Custom and re-ticking Smooth edges of screen fonts and Show thumbnails instead of icons.
8. Run a malware scan
Malware can quietly eat CPU and disk time. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection and select Quick scan. If something seems off despite a clean quick scan, run a Full scan from Scan options. A sudden slowdown paired with pop-ups, new browser extensions or unfamiliar apps is worth taking seriously.
9. Optimize your drives
Search Start for Defragment and Optimize Drives, select a drive and choose Optimize. On a traditional hard drive this defragments files; on an SSD Windows runs a different maintenance routine (TRIM) instead, so it’s safe to use on either. Windows usually schedules this automatically, so check that scheduled optimization is turned on rather than running it daily.
10. Find what’s hogging CPU, memory or disk
When your PC slows down only sometimes, Task Manager tells you why. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, sort the Processes tab by CPU, Memory or Disk, and close apps you aren’t using. The Performance tab shows how much of your memory is in use; if it sits near the top with only a browser and a few apps open, you’ve found your bottleneck (see the hardware section below).
11 and 12. Trim notifications, close apps and restart
Turning off notifications you don’t need (Settings > System > Notifications) gives a small boost and fewer interruptions. And don’t underestimate a restart: Microsoft notes that many open apps or browser tabs can slow performance, and a fresh start via Start > Power > Restart clears out stuck processes. Shutting the lid for weeks at a time isn’t the same thing.
When software fixes aren’t enough: RAM and SSD upgrades
If you’ve done all twelve and the PC is still slow, the hardware is the limit. Windows 11’s official minimum requirements are a 1 GHz dual-core approved CPU, 4 GB of RAM and a 64 GB storage device, but the minimum is the floor for installing Windows, not for a comfortable experience with a modern browser.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Practical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Memory usage near 100% in Task Manager | Too little RAM | Add RAM if the laptop has a free or replaceable slot |
| Disk at 100%, long boot, slow app launches | Spinning hard drive (HDD) | Move to an SSD |
| CPU pegged even with few apps open | Old or low-power processor | No software fix; replacement is the long-term answer |
| Fine plugged in, slow on battery | Power mode / power saving | Expected; switch modes as needed |
Microsoft notes that CPU speed and core count “are not considered upgradable components,” while RAM and storage sometimes are. Many thin laptops have memory soldered to the board, so check your model’s manual or the manufacturer’s spec page before buying parts. If replacement is on the cards, our best time to buy a laptop guide explains when prices usually dip, and Windows 10 holdouts should check the Windows end-of-support calendar.
What not to do
Skip registry cleaners, “RAM boosters” and paid PC optimizer apps that promise dramatic speed-ups. Microsoft’s own list of fixes doesn’t include any of them, and they add the very thing that slows PCs down: another background app. If you want a one-stop tool, Microsoft points to its free Microsoft PC Manager app, which bundles storage cleanup and startup-app management.
Also avoid disabling Windows Update or Windows Security to “save resources.” The speed gain is negligible and the security cost is real.
Verdict
For most people, a slow Windows 11 PC gets noticeably better after three steps: disabling unneeded startup apps, clearing space with Storage Sense and installing pending updates and drivers. Add Best performance power mode when plugged in, and you’ve covered the causes Microsoft names. If Task Manager still shows memory or disk maxed out, stop tweaking and look at a RAM or SSD upgrade, because no setting can make up for hardware that’s hit its limit.
FAQ
How do I make Windows 11 faster for free?
Disable startup apps in Task Manager, run Storage Sense, uninstall unused apps, install Windows and optional driver updates, and set Power mode to Best performance when plugged in. Microsoft lists all of these in its official performance tips, and none requires paid software.
Why is my Windows 11 PC so slow all of a sudden?
Common causes are a nearly full drive, a background update or scan, new startup apps, or malware. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and sort the Processes tab by CPU, Memory and Disk to see what’s using resources, then run a Windows Security quick scan.
How do I speed up Windows 11 startup?
Open Task Manager, go to Startup apps and disable programs you don’t need at sign-in. Moving from a hard drive to an SSD makes the biggest difference to boot time if your PC still uses a spinning disk.
Does Best performance mode hurt my laptop?
It doesn’t damage it, but Microsoft says it increases power use, drains the battery faster and can make the laptop run warmer. Use it when plugged in and switch back to the balanced default on battery.
How much RAM does Windows 11 need?
The official minimum is 4 GB. That’s enough to install and run Windows, but if Task Manager’s Performance tab shows memory close to full during everyday use, more RAM will help, if your PC allows upgrades.
Are PC optimizer apps worth it?
Generally no. Microsoft’s recommended fixes are built into Windows, and its free Microsoft PC Manager app covers cleanup and startup management. Third-party boosters and registry cleaners add background load and can cause problems.
