If your Windows 11 PC has been sluggish lately, try these five things before you start blaming your hardware.
Fix 1: Disable startup programs
Every app that is enabled to launch on startup loads the second your PC loads into Windows. Programs like Zoom, Teams, Spotify, etc., all fighting for your resources at the same time before you’ve even moved your mouse.
Here’s how to fix it:
- Right click your taskbar and click on Task Manager
- Once Task Manager opens, find the speedometer-like icon on the left side and click on it, taking you to the Startup Apps page
- Right-click any program you don’t need opening as soon as you turn on your computer and hit “Disable”
By disabling a program, you’re not uninstalling it, the program just won’t load until you actually ask the computer to open it.
Fix 2: Run Disk Cleanup
Over time, Windows builds up a bunch of junk in your computer that it just never cleans up, such as temporary files, old install packages, and update leftovers, which all take space. Disk Cleanup cleans up all that for you.
To run it:
- Hit the Windows button, type Disk Cleanup, and open the first result
- Once it’s up and running, click “Clean up system files” at the bottom
- Check all the boxes after it’s done scanning
- Hit “OK”, then “Delete Files” to confirm
- Let it clean up your files for a few minutes
- Once done, it will close automatically
It is completely safe to remove all of these files, as they are things Windows has declared as stuff it doesn’t need.
Fix 3: Change your power plan
Windows defaults to Balanced mode for its power plan, which caps your PC’s performance to save energy. Most people don’t.
To change it:
- Hit the Windows button, type Settings, and open the first result
- Once it’s up, click System on the left
- Go to Power > Power Mode
- Find the drop down next to “Plugged in” and set it to Best Performance
Now your PC is running at its best when it is plugged in, and for desktop users, you’re plugged in all the time.
Fix 4: Turn off visual effects
Every time you minimize a Window, an animation is played, likewise with every hover, every menu opened, there is some effect running that can be taking up resources. Individually, they’re nothing, but on older or mid-range hardware it adds up.
To turn them off:
- Hit the Windows button, type Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, and open the first result
- Once it’s up and running, select “Adjust for best performance”
- Hit “Apply” at the bottom
Your animations may look a little plain after, but the difference is noticeable on older hardware.
Fix 5: Run a security scan
Malware can be a huge reason as to why your PC may feel sluggish. A lot of people may skip this step because they assume they’d know if they were infected or if something was wrong, but nowadays, you usually wouldn’t. Malware just runs invisible in the background, maliciously eating at your resources and data.
To quickly check:
- Hit the Windows button, type Windows Security, and open the first result
- Once it’s up and running, click “Virus and Threat Protection”
- Hit “Quick Scan” and let it run
If something is detected as a threat, Windows will walk you through removing it. If it ends up coming back clean, you can rule out malware as an issue.