In real life, a slow laptop makes it hard to focus, finish work on time, and even stay in a good mood. There was a moment when I stopped working and literally thought, “I need to make my laptop work faster right now.” The good news is that most speed problems can be fixed. In this article, I’ll share what actually worked for me, step by step, in clear English—no tech jargon, just simple things you can do right now to make a real difference.
1. Get Rid of Apps You Don't Use
We install a lot of applications throughout time and then forget about them. Even if you don’t use these apps, they nevertheless take up space, run background services, and slow down your machine. When the hard disk on your laptop is full, it has trouble keeping track of data.
I once found three video editing apps that I never used. Removing them immediately generated more space and lessened the background load.
This is crucial because:
Your system will respond faster if there is less stress on storage
Having fewer background processes makes things go faster
How to do it:
Open Settings, then Applications, and then Installed Applications
Get rid of apps that you don’t know or don’t need anymore
2. Stop Programs from Starting Up
Several apps start up on their own when you turn on your laptop. This makes the boot process take longer and eats up RAM even when you don’t need such apps.
After I closed apps I didn’t require, my laptop started up in half the time. That alone felt like a win.
Why it helps:
Starting up quicker
More RAM available for real work
How to do it:
To open Task Manager, click Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Click on the Startup tab
Shut off apps you don’t use every day, such as gaming launchers
3. Make Your Disk Space Clean
You don’t realize it, but temporary files, cache, and obsolete system files add up over time. These files don’t help you and take up space.
After I wiped off the disk, my laptop seemed lighter. Apps opened more quickly, and searching for files became better.
Why cleaning is a good thing:
Makes room
Makes reading and writing faster
How to clean:
Find Disk Cleanup in Windows
Pick the drive for the system
Empty the recycle bin and delete temporary files and data
You may also use trustworthy apps like CCleaner to clean a lot more.
4. Get the Latest Version of Your Software (Smarter Updates)
Your computer can operate slowly and crash if you use old software. Most of the time, updates fix problems and make things operate better. But it doesn’t make sense to update without considering.
For months, I put off updating. After I installed them the right way, my laptop worked better and didn’t lock up as much.
Why updates are important:
Fix performance issues
Make the system more reliable
What you should do:
Update Windows by going to Settings > Windows Update
Just update your main software and web browsers
Don’t utilize auto-updaters that you don’t know about
5. Get New Hardware (There Are Cheap Options)
Sometimes, software updates don’t fix the problem. The hardware is basically what makes it fast. The two enhancements that made the most impact for me were the RAM and the SSD.
Result of the upgrade:
Add extra RAM to make it better at performing more than one thing at a time
SSD: Faster startup and app loading
How to safely upgrade:
Check that the laptop works with it
If you can, replace the HDD with an SSD
Add RAM as long as it doesn’t go above the limits of what is supported
Even an old laptop seems like new when you put in an SSD.
6. Clean Your Laptop by Hand (Yes, It Matters)
Dust inside your laptop keeps it heated. It automatically slows down when the system becomes too hot to protect the hardware.
After two years, I cleaned the fans on my laptop. The noise grew quieter, the temperature went down, and the speed got better.
Why cleaning is a good idea:
Keeps things from becoming too heated
Keeps the pace steady
How to do it:
Turn off and unplug the laptop
Use compressed air for the vents
Carefully wipe the keyboard and screen
7. Turn Off Visual Effects to Speed Things Up
Animations that seem great take up system resources. Visual effects slow down older or less powerful computers.
When I switched off the things I didn’t need, my laptop functioned better for ordinary tasks.
Why cut down on effects?
Uses less CPU and RAM
Faster response time
Steps:
Look for Options for Performance
Choose Adjust for the best results
Only keep the basic visuals on
8. Look for Malware and Other Background Risks
Malware sucks up system resources without making a sound. One piece of unwanted software might make everything run slower.
I once saw a hidden browser hijacker working in the background. Taking it out immediately fixed the slowdowns that happened from time to time.
Why scanning is important:
Protects performance
Stops data issues
How to scan:
Use Windows Defender
Don’t download fake “speed booster” apps
Do scans once a week
Malwarebytes and other tools work well to keep you safe.
FAQ
Can an old laptop become faster?
Yes, if you change the RAM, add an SSD, and clean them up, old laptops may be great for daily tasks.
How often do I need to clean my laptop?
It works well to clean the computer every six to twelve months and the disk every month.
Do apps that speed up your laptop really work?
Not a lot of them do. Cleaning by hand gives you greater control and safer results.
Do I need to reset Windows?
Yes, if nothing else works. First, back up your files.
Conclusion
A slow laptop is more than just a bother. It makes you lose focus and wastes time. I experienced the same issue at work, and instead of acquiring a new laptop, I tried different things, failed, learned, and fixed it one step at a time.
After I learned how to make my laptop run faster, things became simpler. It made a tremendous difference to do little things like uninstalling apps, freeing up space, updating hardware, and lessening the load.
You don’t have to be a computer expert. You just need to wait and do the right things. Do each of these repairs one at a time. Your laptop may not be perfect, but it will definitely be faster, and that feeling is worth it.
If you want more tech lessons like this one, go visit Picksorted.com and read more articles.