You know that moment when your PC takes so long to open a folder that you start wondering if it secretly hates you ? Yeah, been there. A slow computer is honestly one of the most annoying things at home-right up there with Wi-Fi dropping during a video call. The good news is : you can fix most cases in under 10 minutes, without being some kind of tech wizard. And honestly, some of these tricks surprised me the first time I tried them.
Before diving in, if you like practical and down-to-earth tech tips, I stumbled once on https://www.technologie-informatique.fr while searching for a quick fix for a sluggish laptop-it had a super clear explanation of system cleanup basics. But anyway, let’s get into the real stuff you can do right now, without downloading random “optimizer” apps that usually make things worse.
1. Stop Programs From Launching at Startup
Frankly, this alone feels like unlocking a superpower. Most slow PCs crawl because 12 unnecessary apps launch the second you press the power button. Spotify, Steam, Adobe… half of them you don’t need right away.
Windows 10/11:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click Startup apps.
- Disable anything you don’t use every day.
I once disabled four background updaters I didn’t even know existed-my boot time dropped from almost 2 minutes to something like 35 seconds. Wild.
2. Clean Up Temporary Files (The Real Ones)
Windows stores tons of temporary files. Some are useful ; many are pure clutter. Think of them like crumbs stuck in a keyboard-you don’t see them, but you feel them.
- Press Win + R, type temp, delete everything.
- Do the same with %temp%.
- Open Disk Cleanup and clear system files.
Don’t worry, you’re not deleting anything important. Maybe a few leftover installers-nothing you’ll miss.
3. Remove Heavy Background Apps
Some apps, like cloud sync tools or photo managers, constantly run in the background. That’s fine… unless they eat half your RAM. Ask yourself : Do I really need this running 24/7?
Just open Task Manager → Processes, sort by memory or CPU, and you’ll instantly spot the greedy ones. I once found a game launcher using 600 MB doing absolutely nothing. Gone.
4. Update Windows and Drivers (Yeah, I Know…)
I used to ignore updates too. Then one day, after installing one tiny graphics driver update, a friend’s PC stopped stuttering in Chrome. Sometimes the fix is that simple.
- Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates
- Optional : update graphics drivers via Intel, Nvidia, or AMD
5. Switch Your Power Plan to “High Performance”
Windows loves to save energy… a little too much. On some laptops, the “balanced” mode throttles performance heavily.
- Search Power Plan → choose High Performance
Sure, the fan might spin a bit louder, but the speed gain ? Totally worth it.
6. Clean Up Your Desktop (Seriously)
Okay, hear me out. Windows treats each desktop icon like a tiny UI object it has to redraw constantly. If you have 80 icons (yes, I’ve seen this), it slows things down.
Move everything into one folder-call it “Stuff I’ll Sort Later” if you want. Instant clarity, instant speed boost.
7. Disable Visual Effects You Don’t Need
Windows animations look nice, but on older PCs they feel like walking in mud with fancy shoes.
- Search Adjust the appearance of Windows
- Select Adjust for best performance
If that looks too bare, re-enable just the ones you care about.
8. Check Your Storage : If It’s Nearly Full, You’re Slowing Everything Down
SSDs, especially, hate being full. If you’re above 80–85%, performance tanks. Delete old downloads, uninstall unused software, or move photos/videos to an external drive.
I once freed 15 GB by just removing duplicate videos from a vacation in Marseille-Windows felt instantly snappier.
9. Restart… Properly
Sounds obvious, right ? But many people only “Shut down.” On Windows 10/11, shutdown often uses a hybrid mode that doesn’t fully reset the system.
Click : Restart → that’s the real refresh.
10. Bonus : If You’re Still Slow, Consider Upgrading RAM or Moving to an SSD
This isn’t a 10-minute tweak, but it’s the best upgrade you can give a slow PC-especially if it still uses a hard drive. An SSD can make an old machine feel brand new. I’ve seen 8-year-old laptops boot in 12 seconds after the switch.
Conclusion
A slow PC doesn’t always mean it’s “dying.” Most of the time, it’s just cluttered, overloaded, or misconfigured. These tweaks take minutes, don’t require risk or technical skills, and honestly, they can bring back that smooth, snappy feeling you’d forgotten about.
Try them one by one-see which one makes you go “wow, that was it !”. And if you’ve got your own little tricks, I’m curious : what’s the one thing that sped up your machine the most ?