Have you ever been working on your laptop and suddenly everything starts taking too long to load? It always seems to happen at the worst time, especially when you have a deadline to meet.
Technology has become the backbone of most workplaces, especially in this new age of AI, so almost everyone has dealt with some type of computer issue before. The problem is that many people don’t know what to do other than deleting a few files or restarting the laptop and hoping it works better afterward.
Before you decide to throw your computer into space, there are a few quick checks you can make that may help improve its speed.
Check Task Manager First
One of the first places I would check is Task Manager. Most people who aren’t into tech may not know where to find it, but there are a couple of easy ways to open it.
You can search for Task Manager using the Windows search bar or press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC on your keyboard.
Once Task Manager opens, look at which apps or programs are using the most CPU, memory, or disk resources. Sometimes one program running in the background can use a large amount of your computer’s resources and slow everything else down.
If you see a program running that you are not currently using, closing it may help. You should avoid randomly ending Windows processes or anything you do not recognize because some of those processes are necessary for your computer to run properly.
Check Your Storage
Another thing to check is how much storage space you have left.
If your SSD, or solid-state drive, is almost completely full, your computer may not have enough free space to perform certain tasks efficiently. You can open File Explorer and check how much storage space remains.
If the drive is getting full, deleting files you no longer need, removing unused programs, or moving large files to another drive or cloud storage may help free up space.
Check Your Startup Apps
Does your computer take forever to load after you restart it?
There may be too many programs scheduled to open automatically when the computer starts. When several programs try to launch at the same time, it can slow down the startup process and make your computer feel sluggish before you even begin working.
You can check your Startup Apps settings and disable programs that do not need to open every time your computer turns on.
Check for Windows Updates
Windows may also be downloading or installing updates in the background.
Updates are important, but they can temporarily use system resources and make your computer feel slower while they are running. Checking Windows Update can help you determine whether an update is currently downloading, installing, or waiting for a restart.
Make Sure Your Laptop Is Not Overheating
Sometimes the problem isn’t software at all.
Dust and debris can block your laptop’s vents or fans and cause the computer to overheat. When that happens, the processor may slow itself down to help prevent heat damage.
If your laptop feels unusually hot or the fan seems to be running constantly, make sure the vents are not blocked and that the laptop is sitting on a hard, flat surface where air can circulate.
Don’t Give Up on Your Laptop Yet
A slow laptop does not always mean you need a new computer. Sometimes the problem can be something as simple as an unnecessary program running in the background, limited storage space, too many startup apps, an update, or overheating.
Taking a few minutes to check these things first can help you figure out what may be causing the slowdown before spending money on repairs or replacing the laptop.
And if none of these steps improve the performance, that may be a sign that the computer needs deeper troubleshooting for issues such as malware, failing hardware, limited memory, or a problem with the storage drive.
Either way, all is not lost. Before turning your laptop into an expensive paperweight, start with the simple things first. Save yourself the extra expense and learn to find solutions that will keep you from sending your computer into orbit.
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