How to speed up an old laptop: 10 checks, in order

You can speed up most old or slow laptops without spending anything. Work through these ten checks in order: the first seven are free settings changes, cleaning the vents costs very little, and only the last two (an SSD and more RAM) cost real money.

Last updated October 25, 2026 · Steps checked against Microsoft, Dell and Google support pages

The short version

Restart, install updates and turn off startup apps you don’t need. These are free and take a few minutes.
Open Task Manager to see whether the processor, memory or disk is maxed out. That tells you which fix will actually help.
A laptop that runs hot with a fan that never stops slows itself down. Cleaning the vents is the cheapest fix.
If Task Manager shows a hard drive (HDD) stuck near 100%, an SSD is the upgrade to look at. Add RAM only if memory stays near full.

First, find out what’s slowing it down

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then select the Performance tab. Dell’s troubleshooting guide suggests selecting CPU, Memory and Disk in turn and noting how busy each one is. Select Disk to see whether your laptop has an HDD or an SSD.

This saves money later. As Dell points out, more RAM doesn’t help if the slowness comes from the processor, a slow hard drive, heat or malware.

Free fixes

1. Restart and install updates

Close the apps and browser tabs you aren’t using. If things are still slow, restart from Start → Power → Restart.

Then go to Settings → Windows Update and select Check for updates. Microsoft also suggests installing optional driver updates (on Windows 11, under Advanced options → Optional updates). Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so a Windows 10 laptop only gets security updates if it’s enrolled in Extended Security Updates.

2. Turn off startup apps

Many apps start with Windows and keep running in the background. Microsoft notes that startup apps “can slow boot time and increase background usage.” In Task Manager, select Startup apps, right-click anything you don’t need straight away and select Disable. The app still works when you open it yourself.

Not sure what’s safe to turn off? Our guide to disabling startup apps goes through the usual suspects. On Windows 11 you can also stop individual apps running in the background: Settings → Apps → Installed apps → the three dots → Advanced options, then set background permissions to Never.

3. Free up storage space

Microsoft says low disk space can reduce system performance. Go to Settings → System → Storage and turn on Storage Sense, or select Temporary files → Remove files. Uninstall apps you no longer use from Settings → Apps → Installed apps.

Before you delete anything: read what each checkbox in Temporary files includes, and back up anything you want to keep first.

How much space should be free? Dell recommends keeping about 10 to 15 percent of a hard drive free, and about 25 to 30 percent of an SSD.

4. Scan for malware with Windows Security

“Malware can consume CPU and disk resources,” Microsoft says. Run a scan with the antivirus that’s already built into Windows:

Windows 11: Settings → Privacy & security → Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Quick scan
Windows 10: Settings → Update & Security → Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Quick scan

Dell lists the warning signs as unexpected pop-ups and high CPU or disk use from processes you don’t recognize.

5. Trim browser extensions and tabs

Every open tab and extension uses some memory, and on a laptop with little RAM that adds up. Turn off extensions you don’t use: in Chrome, open the three-dot menu and go to Extensions → Manage extensions, then switch them off or remove them.

Chrome and Edge can also put idle tabs to sleep. Chrome’s Memory Saver (Settings → Performance) deactivates tabs you aren’t using and reloads them when you go back. In Edge, turn on Save resources with sleeping tabs under Settings → System and performance.

6. Check the power mode

A battery-saving power mode holds the laptop back. On Windows 11, go to Settings → System → Power & battery and set Power mode to Best performance. On Windows 10, go to Settings → System → Power & sleep → Additional power settings and pick High performance if it’s listed.

Microsoft notes that this uses more power, drains the battery faster and may make the laptop run warmer, so it’s best used when you’re plugged in. Our Windows power mode guide explains each setting.

7. Turn down visual effects

Animations and shadows use system resources. Type “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows” into Start, open it, and on the Visual Effects tab choose Adjust for best performance. Windows will look plainer, and you can switch individual effects back on.

Low-cost fix

8. Check for overheating and dust

Heat slows a laptop down on purpose. Dell explains that “most processors automatically lower their speed to compensate for heat,” and that dust in the vents makes the fan work harder and louder. The signs are a fan that runs constantly, a laptop that feels hot, and slowdowns when it’s busy.

Use the laptop on a hard, flat surface rather than a blanket or pillow, which can cover the air intake. To clean the vents, Dell suggests turning the laptop off, unplugging it and using short bursts of compressed air through the vents. Dell advises against household vacuums, because they can generate static electricity. More in our laptop overheating guide.

Paid upgrades

9. Replace a hard drive with an SSD

If Task Manager shows an HDD and disk use sits near 100%, this is the upgrade to consider. Dell says moving from an HDD to an SSD helps improve performance, because SSDs read and write faster. If your laptop already has an SSD, skip this step.

Before you start: back up your files. Moving to a new drive means copying (cloning) the old one or reinstalling Windows, and either can go wrong.

Our SSD upgrade guide covers which drive fits and how to move Windows across.

10. Add more RAM

Dell recommends this only if Task Manager shows memory staying near its maximum. Check before you buy anything: some laptops have memory soldered to the board, which can’t be upgraded. See how much RAM you need for realistic amounts.

When it isn’t worth it

Microsoft notes that older PCs with outdated hardware may not see significant improvements from these tips, and that upgrading may be the best long-term fix. Before you spend money on parts, look up your model in our Can It Run? database to see what it supports.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my laptop so slow all of a sudden?

A sudden slowdown usually has a specific cause, such as updates installing, a new startup app, a full drive, malware or overheating. Open Task Manager’s Processes tab to see what’s using the processor, memory or disk. Dell also suggests checking Windows Reliability Monitor to see whether any installs or failures happened on the day the slowness began.

Why is my laptop so slow after an update?

Restart first, because some updates need a restart to finish installing. If it’s still slow, Dell suggests starting in Safe Mode: if the laptop is fast there, the cause is most likely a driver or another piece of software. As a last resort, you can uninstall the update from Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates. Microsoft warns that you should understand the risks before removing a security update, and that some updates can’t be uninstalled.

Will an SSD speed up my old laptop?

Yes, if it still has a hard drive. Dell says an SSD reads and writes faster than an HDD and helps improve performance. If Task Manager already shows an SSD, a new drive won’t make much difference, and the problem is elsewhere.

Will a factory reset speed up an old laptop?

It can, if years of apps and settings are the problem. Windows’ Reset this PC with “Keep my files” reinstalls Windows and removes your apps and settings, but keeps your personal files. A reset doesn’t change the hardware, so it won’t fix a slow hard drive, too little RAM or overheating. Back up your files first, even if you choose “Keep my files”.