Is Your Windows 11 PC Running Slow?

Windows 11 is a polished operating system, but it can accumulate performance drag over time — from startup programs, background services, visual effects, and bloatware. The good news is that most slowdowns can be addressed without spending money on hardware upgrades.

These eight tips are practical, safe, and don't require any third-party software.

1. Audit Your Startup Programs

The #1 cause of slow boot times is too many programs launching at startup. To fix it:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
  2. Click the Startup apps tab
  3. Right-click anything you don't need at boot and select Disable

Focus on disabling apps like Spotify, Discord, Teams, OneDrive (if you don't use it constantly), and any manufacturer utilities you never open.

2. Adjust Visual Effects for Performance

Windows 11's animations and shadows look great but consume resources on lower-end machines.

  1. Search for "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows" in the Start menu
  2. Select "Adjust for best performance" or manually uncheck specific effects
  3. Click Apply

Keeping "Smooth edges of screen fonts" checked is recommended — it prevents text from looking jagged.

3. Enable Storage Sense

Storage Sense automatically cleans up temporary files, old Windows Update files, and Recycle Bin contents on a schedule.

  1. Go to Settings → System → Storage
  2. Toggle on Storage Sense
  3. Click it to configure cleanup frequency and what gets deleted

4. Manage Power Plan Settings

If your PC is set to "Power Saver" mode, it intentionally throttles performance to save energy. Switch to "Balanced" or "High Performance":

  1. Search "Power plan" in the Start menu
  2. Select Choose a power plan
  3. Pick Balanced or High Performance

Note: High Performance increases energy use — best for desktops or when plugged in.

5. Check for Malware

Background malware or adware is a surprisingly common cause of slowdowns. Run a scan with the built-in Windows Security tool:

  1. Open Windows Security from the Start menu
  2. Go to Virus & Threat Protection
  3. Run a Quick Scan or Full Scan

6. Update Drivers (Especially GPU)

Outdated graphics drivers can cause sluggish performance, visual glitches, and app crashes. Visit your GPU manufacturer's website directly (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) for the latest driver — or use Device Manager to check for updates.

7. Disable Background Apps

Many apps run in the background even when you're not using them:

  1. Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps
  2. Click the three-dot menu next to an app → Advanced options
  3. Under Background apps permissions, set it to Never

8. Restart Regularly (Seriously)

Many Windows users leave their PC in sleep mode for days or weeks. A full restart clears RAM, applies pending updates, and resets system processes that leak memory over time. Make it a habit to fully restart at least once every few days.

Quick Performance Checklist

TaskTime RequiredImpact
Disable startup apps5 minutesHigh
Adjust visual effects2 minutesMedium
Enable Storage Sense2 minutesMedium
Check power plan1 minuteHigh (laptops)
Run malware scan10–30 minutesHigh if infected
Update GPU driver10 minutesMedium–High