A slow Windows PC is one of the most common complaints we hear at our Edinburgh repair workshop. Whether your computer takes an age to boot, freezes when you open a few programmes (see our guide to common PC problems), or feels sluggish during everyday tasks, there are usually a handful of straightforward fixes that can make a significant difference — before you even consider a hardware upgrade.
Here's a practical guide to speeding up your Windows PC, starting with the simplest steps first.
1. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programmes
Every time you turn on your PC, Windows loads a list of programmes automatically. Over time, this list grows — and many of those programmes are things you rarely use. Each one takes up memory and processor time before you've even opened a browser.
To review your startup programmes in Windows 11 or Windows 10, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then click the Startup apps tab. Look for items with a "High" startup impact and right-click to disable anything you don't need immediately on boot — things like Spotify, Teams, Zoom, or software updaters.
2. Check What's Using Your Resources Right Now
If your PC suddenly feels slow, something might be running in the background consuming CPU or memory. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and look at the Processes tab. Sort by CPU or Memory to see what's at the top. A programme using 80–90% of your CPU consistently is worth investigating — it could be a stuck update, a misbehaving app, or in some cases, malware.
If you suspect malware is responsible for your slow PC, our virus and malware removal service can help you get to the root of the problem.
3. Free Up Disc Space
Windows needs a certain amount of free space on your system drive to operate efficiently. If your C: drive is more than 80–85% full, performance can suffer noticeably. Run the built-in Disc Cleanup tool (search for it in the Start menu) to remove temporary files, old Windows update files, and items in the Recycle Bin. For a more thorough approach, see our spring clean your PC guide. On Windows 11, you can also enable Storage Sense under Settings > System > Storage to automate this on a schedule.
4. Adjust Your Power Plan
If your PC is set to a power-saving plan, it may be deliberately throttling performance to reduce energy use. Go to Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings and switch to Balanced or High performance. This is especially common on laptops, where the default plan often prioritises battery life over speed.
5. Make Sure Windows Is Up to Date
Pending updates can slow your system down — particularly large cumulative updates that run background tasks while you're trying to work. Go to Settings > Windows Update and install any outstanding updates. Once complete and restarted, your PC may feel noticeably quicker, as Windows often includes performance improvements in its updates.
6. Check Your Hard Drive
If you're still using a traditional spinning hard drive (HDD) rather than a solid-state drive (SSD), this is very likely the single biggest bottleneck on your machine. HDDs are mechanical and comparatively slow — Windows 11 was designed with SSDs in mind, and the difference in boot times and application loading speeds is dramatic.
You can check which type of drive you have by opening Task Manager, going to the Performance tab, and clicking on your drive. If it shows "HDD" rather than "SSD", upgrading is almost certainly the most impactful thing you can do for performance. Our hardware upgrade service covers SSD installations, and we can migrate all your existing data across so you don't lose a thing.
7. Add More RAM
If your PC has 4GB of RAM or less, it will struggle with modern Windows — particularly if you use a browser with multiple tabs open. 8GB is now considered the baseline for comfortable everyday use, and 16GB is recommended if you multitask heavily or use creative software.
Upgrading RAM is often straightforward and affordable, though the exact steps vary by model. Our RAM and SSD upgrade guide walks through what to consider. Our team can check compatibility and carry out the upgrade for you — take a look at our hardware upgrades page for more information.
8. Scan for Malware
Malware is frequently the hidden cause of a sluggish PC. Some types run silently in the background, using your system's resources to mine cryptocurrency, send spam, or communicate with remote servers. Run a full scan with Windows Defender (search for Windows Security in the Start menu), or contact us if you'd like a thorough professional clean. Our guide to signs your PC has a virus can help you identify if malware is the culprit.
When Is It Time to Call a Professional?
If you've worked through the steps above and your PC is still frustratingly slow, it may be time to get an expert involved. There could be a deeper software issue, a failing drive, or a hardware component that's underperforming. Our team carries out a full diagnostic on every machine before recommending any repair or upgrade, so you'll know exactly what's causing the problem before spending a penny.
We also offer a software troubleshooting service for persistent Windows problems, and a full Windows reinstall if your system is too bogged down to recover through normal means. Both services include a full data backup beforehand, so your files are always safe. We also offer remote support if you'd prefer us to troubleshoot without needing to bring your PC in.
Get in touch or book a repair and we'll have your PC running like new again.