How to Fix a Slow Laptop in 2026: 14 Fixes That Actually Work (Windows & Mac)
If your laptop has gone from snappy to sluggish, you are not imagining things. Over time, every computer accumulates digital clutter—background apps, browser tabs, temporary files, and outdated software that quietly drain performance. The good news? You do not need to buy a new laptop. Most slowdowns are fixable with a few targeted adjustments.
This guide covers 14 proven methods to speed up a slow laptop on both Windows 11 and macOS. These fixes are arranged from quickest (takes seconds) to more involved (takes 15–30 minutes), so you can start with the easy wins and work your way down if needed.
1. Restart Your Laptop (Yes, Really)
It sounds too simple, but a full restart clears temporary files, refreshes system memory, and closes background processes that may be hogging resources. Many users put their laptops to sleep instead of shutting down, which lets memory leaks and zombie processes accumulate over days or weeks.
What to do: Shut down completely, wait 10 seconds, then power back on. Do not just close the lid—actually select "Shut down" or "Restart."
2. Check What Is Actually Using Resources
Before randomly uninstalling things, identify the actual culprits. Both Windows and Mac have built-in tools for this.
Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Click the "Performance" tab to see CPU, memory, and disk usage. Then click "Processes" to see which apps are consuming the most. If something is using 80%+ of your CPU or memory consistently, that is your target.
macOS: Open Activity Monitor from Applications → Utilities. The "CPU" and "Memory" tabs show what is demanding resources. Look for apps with high percentages or apps you do not recognize consuming significant memory.
3. Close Browser Tabs You Are Not Using
Modern browsers are notorious memory hogs. Each tab runs its own process, and with 20+ tabs open, you can easily consume 4–8GB of RAM just on browsing. Extensions add to this load.
Quick fixes:
- Use a tab suspender extension like OneTab or The Great Suspender
- Bookmark tabs you want to revisit later, then close them
- Limit extensions to ones you actively use—remove the rest
4. Disable Startup Programs
Many apps automatically launch when you start your laptop, eating RAM and CPU before you even open anything. Disabling unnecessary startup items is one of the highest-impact fixes.
Windows 11: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Startup tab. Right-click apps you do not need immediately on boot and select "Disable." Common culprits: Spotify, Adobe Creative Cloud, Steam, Discord, and manufacturer bloatware.
macOS: System Settings → General → Login Items. Remove apps you do not need at startup. Also check "Allow in Background" and disable anything non-essential.
5. Free Up Disk Space
When your drive is nearly full, performance tanks. Windows and macOS both need free space for virtual memory, temporary files, and system operations. Aim to keep at least 15–20% of your drive free.
Windows: Settings → System → Storage. Turn on Storage Sense to auto-delete temporary files. Click "Temporary files" to manually clear downloads, recycle bin, and system cache.
macOS: Apple menu → About This Mac → More Info → Storage Settings. Use "Reduce Clutter" to review large files, and enable "Empty Trash automatically."
6. Uninstall Programs You Do Not Use
Over months and years, laptops accumulate software—trial versions, bundled apps, one-time tools—that runs background processes even when you are not using them.
Windows: Settings → Apps → Installed apps. Sort by size or date installed. Remove anything you do not recognize or have not used in 6+ months.
macOS: Finder → Applications. Drag unused apps to Trash, or use a dedicated uninstaller like AppCleaner to remove associated files.
7. Scan for Malware
Malware and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) are common causes of sudden slowdowns. They run hidden processes, display ads, or mine cryptocurrency in the background.
Recommended free scanners:
- Windows: Windows Security (built-in), Malwarebytes
- Mac: Malwarebytes for Mac, KnockKnock (for persistent items)
Run a full scan, not just a quick one. Remove anything flagged, then restart.
8. Update Your Operating System and Drivers
Updates often include performance improvements, bug fixes, and security patches. Running outdated software can cause compatibility issues and slowdowns.
Windows: Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates. Also check for driver updates in Device Manager, especially for graphics and network adapters.
macOS: System Settings → General → Software Update. Apple bundles driver updates with macOS updates, so keeping the OS current covers most hardware.
9. Adjust Visual Effects for Performance
Fancy animations and transparency effects look nice but consume resources. On older or lower-spec laptops, disabling these can noticeably improve responsiveness.
Windows: Settings → System → About → Advanced system settings → Performance Settings → "Adjust for best performance." You can also choose "Custom" and disable specific effects while keeping ones you like.
macOS: System Settings → Accessibility → Display → Reduce motion and Reduce transparency.
10. Check for Background Windows Updates
Windows frequently downloads and installs updates in the background, which can slow your laptop significantly during the process. The "Windows Modules Installer Worker" process often shows high CPU/disk usage when this happens.
What to do: Settings → Windows Update → Pause updates temporarily if you need performance now, or let it finish and restart. You can also schedule active hours so updates do not interrupt your work.
11. Upgrade Your RAM (If Possible)
If your laptop consistently uses 80–90% of its RAM, no amount of software tweaking will fully solve the problem. Adding more RAM is one of the most effective hardware upgrades for performance.
Check your current RAM:
- Windows: Task Manager → Performance → Memory
- Mac: Apple menu → About This Mac
Note: Many modern laptops (especially ultrabooks and MacBooks) have soldered RAM that cannot be upgraded. Check your model's specifications before buying RAM sticks.
12. Switch to an SSD (If You Still Have a Hard Drive)
If your laptop still uses a traditional spinning hard drive (HDD), upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD) will transform its performance. Boot times drop from minutes to seconds, apps launch instantly, and the whole system feels responsive.
Check your drive type:
- Windows: Task Manager → Performance → Disk. If it says "HDD," an upgrade will help enormously.
- Mac: Apple menu → About This Mac → System Report → Storage. Look for "SSD" or "Flash Storage."
External SSDs connected via USB-C or Thunderbolt can also help if internal upgrades are not possible.
13. Reset Your Laptop (Nuclear Option)
If you have tried everything and your laptop is still slow, a factory reset removes all software bloat and starts fresh. This is time-consuming but often restores performance to near-new levels.
Windows: Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC. Choose "Keep my files" to preserve your data while removing apps and settings, or "Remove everything" for a completely clean slate.
macOS: System Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content and Settings (on Apple Silicon) or use macOS Recovery (Intel).
Important: Back up your data first. Even the "Keep my files" option can have unexpected results.
14. Check for Hardware Issues
If software fixes do not help, the problem might be hardware. Aging batteries can cause performance throttling. Failing hard drives slow down as they struggle to read data. Overheating triggers thermal throttling that reduces CPU speed.
Signs of hardware problems:
- Laptop gets very hot and fans run constantly
- Strange noises (clicking, grinding) from the drive
- Battery drains unusually fast or only works when plugged in
- Frequent crashes or blue screens
If you suspect hardware issues, consider a professional diagnostic or contact the manufacturer if still under warranty.
When to Accept That You Need a New Laptop
Sometimes, the hardware is simply too old to run modern software well. If your laptop is 7+ years old, has a dual-core processor, less than 8GB RAM, and an HDD, no amount of optimization will make it feel fast for 2026 workloads.
That said, most laptops from the last 4–5 years can be restored to good performance with the steps above. Start with the quick wins—restart, close tabs, disable startup apps—and work your way through the list. You will likely be surprised how much life is left in your machine.
Written by Fanny Engriana. Last updated April 2026.
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