Your computer is slow: what to try first
Five things that fix most slowdowns, and what to tell us if they do not.
- Save your work, then restart the computer. Restart is different from shut down, as explained in restart your computer.
- Close programs and browser tabs you are not using. Dozens of open tabs slow down any computer.
- Check for updates. Open Settings, choose Windows Update, then select Check for updates.
- Check your free space. Open Settings, choose System, then Storage. If the drive is nearly full, tell us and we will help you clear it safely.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and look at the Processes tab. If one program is using almost all of the memory or processor, close it and see whether things improve.
Careful
Do not install cleaner, booster or optimizer programs. Most of them make things worse, and some are malware.
If it is still slow
Open a ticket and tell us when it started, which program is slow, and whether it happens all day or only at certain times. The guide on what to include in a support request has a full list.