1. Restart Your Laptop
A reboot can often give your laptop a fresh start by:

• Removing temporary files

• Releasing memory (RAM)

• Stopping unnecessary background processes

• Refreshing system components

2. Evaluate and Upgrade RAM
To check your current RAM:

1. Press Windows + X

2. Click Task Manager

3. Open the Performance tab

4. Choose Memory

If you’re running on less than 8GB of RAM, upgrading it can significantly boost performance.

3. Clear Up Hard Drive Space
A nearly full drive slows everything down. Free up space by:

1. Pressing Windows + E to open File Explorer

2. Right-clicking on the C: drive

3. Selecting Properties to view disk usage

4. Running Disk Cleanup to delete:

   • Temporary files

   • Old downloads

   • Recycle Bin data

   • Windows update backups

4. Disable Unnecessary Startup Apps
Stop programs from launching at startup to improve boot speed:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch Task Manager

2. Go to the Startup tab

3. Disable non-essential apps

4. Restart your laptop

5. Keep Your OS Updated
Running the latest system updates ensures better performance:

1. Navigate to Settings > Windows Update

2. Click Check for updates

3. Install all available updates

4. Restart when prompted

6. Scan for Malware
Malicious software can cripple performance:

1. Open Windows Security

2. Choose Virus & threat protection

3. Run a Full Scan

4. Remove any detected threats

7. Tune Your Browser
Speed up web browsing by:

• Closing extra tabs

• Clearing cache and cookies

• Removing unused extensions

• Updating your browser

8. Optimize Power Settings
Switch to a power plan that balances performance:

1. Open Control Panel > Power Options

2. Choose Balanced or High Performance

3. Avoid Power Saver unless necessary

9. Defragment (If You Use an HDD)
If you’re using a traditional hard disk drive (HDD):

1. Search for Defragment and Optimize Drives

2. Select the main drive

3. Click Optimize
   (Note: This doesn’t apply to SSDs)

10. Physically Clean the Device
Overheating can slow down performance. Prevent it by:

• Cleaning air vents and fans

• Using compressed air to clear dust

• Ensuring airflow around the laptop

• Using a laptop cooling pad

11. Remove Unused Applications
Free up space and resources:

1. Go to Settings > Apps

2. Review the list of installed programs

3. Uninstall what you don’t use

4. Restart your laptop

12. Keep Drivers Up to Date
Outdated drivers can cause performance issues:

1. Open Device Manager

2. Look for devices with warning icons

3. Right-click and choose Update driver

4. Let Windows search for updates

13. Upgrade to an SSD
Swapping an HDD for an SSD offers:

• Lightning-fast startup

• Quicker file access

• Faster software launches

• Enhanced system responsiveness

14. Reset Your System (If Needed)
If all else fails, a system reset may help:

1. Back up essential data

2. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery

3. Click Reset this PC

4. Choose your reset option and follow the steps

15. Seek Expert Help
If you’ve tried everything and your laptop is still crawling:

• Consider professional internal cleaning

• Ask for a hardware checkup

• Consult a certified repair technician

Need visuals?

Check out this YouTube Video on how to speed up your computer.