A slow computer can hurt your bottom line—the minutes spent waiting for the computer to do what it needs to do add up to hours (or even days) each month of unproductive time. Plus, the frustration of these computer issues can add unnecessary stress to your day, which isn’t ideal when there are other tasks to worry about. Finding out why your computer’s performance is slowing down is worth the effort to ensure your time is being spent productively.
Reasons for the slow computer?
If your computer is running slowly, there may be several causes, ranging from outdated software to insufficient computer hardware. Keep reading to learn about the most common causes of computer lag and what you can do to fix it.
Outdated software
If you’re using an older version of an operating system, application, or driver, it may not be compatible with the newer hardware or software. This compatibility issue can cause your computer to run slowly and even lead to crashes.
One way to combat this issue is to update your software. Make sure you’re using the latest version of your operating system, as well as any applications you frequently use. Many software companies regularly release updates for their products, so checking for updates can help keep your computer running smoothly.
You can also try upgrading your software to the newest version. This may provide better compatibility with newer hardware and software, as well as improve the performance of your computer.
Inadequate hardware
If your computer doesn’t have enough memory (RAM), it may start to run slowly. When your RAM is full, your computer has to use virtual memory, which is stored on your hard drive. This can cause your computer to run slowly because accessing data from your hard drive is slower than accessing data from your RAM.
To fix this issue, you can try upgrading your RAM. This will give your computer more memory to work with, which can help improve its performance.
You can also try closing any programs running in the background and not being used. This will free up some of your RAM so that your computer can use it more effectively.
Too many background programs
Computers can slow down for various reasons, but one of the most common is when there are too many background programs. These background processes are caused by either malware or by legitimate programs that have been left to run indefinitely.
Overheating
In addition to the reasons for a slow computer listed above, another common cause of slow performance is overheating. When your computer components get too hot, they can start to malfunction. This can lead to freezes, crashes, and general slowdowns.
Fragmented hard drive
If you’re not using a Solid State Drive (SSD) and instead are using a traditional Hard Disk Drive (HDD), you may be experiencing performance issues due to fragmentation. Fragmentation occurs when your files are spread out across your hard drive rather than stored in a contiguous location. This can make it harder for your computer to access the data it needs, leading to slower performance.
While HDDs are fit for purpose, SSDs are considerably faster at recovering and transferring data due to their design, so it may be worth investigating whether an upgrade would benefit.
Unnecessary files and programs
One way to clean up your hard drive and improve your computer’s performance is to delete unnecessary files and programs. Manually deleting unnecessary files can be time-consuming and tedious, but it is an excellent way to eliminate any files you no longer need.
Viruses and malware
If you think that your computer may be infected with viruses or malware, you should scan your computer for viruses and malware. There are several different programs that you can use to do this, including Malwarebytes, Webroot, and Microsoft Bitdefender.
Once you’ve scanned your computer for viruses and malware, you should remove any infected files. This will help improve your computer’s performance and protect your data from being compromised.
Outdated drivers
Drivers are the pieces of software that allow your hardware to communicate with your operating system & hardware. If you have outdated drivers, this can cause problems, including slow performance.
Poorly designed programs
Some programs are poorly designed and can cause your computer to run slowly.
How to Fix a Slow Computer
There are many reasons why a computer may be running slowly. However, your computer’s speed is largely determined by three key components.
- CPU: The central processing unit, also known as the processor, is your computer’s brain. Its performance is measured in gigahertz (GHz), and the faster it is, the faster your computer and apps will run.
- RAM: Random-access memory, often just called memory, is measured in gigabytes (GB) for size and GHz for speed. More GBs and faster speeds will make your apps run more fluidly and allow you to have more programs open at once.
- Disk drive: Your storage drive, or hard drive, space is where your apps and files are stored when they’re not being used. It’s measured in volume by GBs and read/write speed by GBs per second.
If you use up too many of these resources, your computer won’t be able to keep up with you, and you’ll be spending a lot of time waiting for it to load—or worse, dealing with computer crashes. Here are some tips on making sure your computer is using its available resources the best way possible.
Restart Your PC
When in doubt, restart! While your computer is running, your operating system allocates space in RAM for different programs. If your RAM fills up (for example, from opening too many browser tabs), your computer will slow down.A simple restart of your device clears the data out of RAM and loads up only the essential applications your computer needs. You should then only open the applications required to complete your task. Opening other programs will likely put you back in the same situation.
Check Task Manager to See How Your PC Is Performing
Your computer only has so many resources. If you’re running more programs or bigger files than your RAM, CPU, and disk drive can handle, your computer will run slowly.To see how much of each resource you’re using, open the Task Manager by searching for it in the Start menu or by pressing Control, Alt, and Delete simultaneously on your keyboard. In the Task Manager window, select the Performance tab. The left-side column will show you a list of key resource components and the percentage of each resource being actively used.If you’re using more than 80 percent of your RAM, CPU, and disk space consistently, your computer is running or storing more than it can handle. Freeing up storage space or adding more RAM or an additional storage disk drive can help. We cover many of these tips in this section. If your CPU is overloaded by the tasks you’re asking it to do, you may need to upgrade to a new laptop or desktop with a new CPU with a faster speed.Quick tip: Use the Task Manager to close any unneeded apps to potentially give your computer a quick boost of speed.
Disable Startup Programs
Do you know which programs open when your PC starts up? Most people don’t, but a common PC performance problem is when there are too many applications that start automatically when your PC boots up. These applications then run in the background, taking up your PC’s limited memory and other resources and potentially causing your other applications to run more slowly.To stop unnecessary apps from opening automatically, select Start in the taskbar, or tap the Windows key, to bring up a list of applications. Locate and select Settings to open the Settings window. Next, locate and select Apps, then Startup. Here, you’ll find the programs that start automatically. If you see any that you don’t use every time you use your computer, toggle them to Off. If you’re not sure what one of the apps is, you can do an internet search to learn more about it before you decide if you want to keep it on or turn it off.
Free Up Disk Space
If your hard drive is full or nearly full, it slows down your computer. The operating system doesn’t have enough free space to work adequately, resulting in your PC running slowly and your files taking too long to open, among other effects.Freeing up some disk space on your PC may improve its performance.
Pause OneDrive Syncing
If you use Microsoft OneDrive to store files in the cloud, your PC will continually perform a syncing action between your computer and the cloud. This allows for your files to be properly saved, whether you access them from your desktop or a web browser. This syncing can slow your computer down by taking up key computer resources.If you’re trying to overcome computer performance problems, pausing OneDrive syncing can free up disk space and resources and give your PC a speed boost. To do so, look for the OneDrive icon, which looks like a cloud, on the taskbar near the notification area. Select the OneDrive icon to open its menu, then select Settings, or the gear icon. Locate the sync menu to review your current preferences, and toggle any of the options you don’t want to automatically sync to Off. In some cases, you can then choose how long you want to pause syncing your files.
Check for Viruses and Malware
Viruses, malware, and malicious software are typically designed to use up your computer’s resources to perform tasks you didn’t ask for. This means that a slow computer might be infected (though this is much less likely than the other issues addressed in this article).In the search bar located on the taskbar or under the Start menu, search “Windows Security” to see a summary of all security options on your device, including a few to scan for viruses. You can also employ many of the other antivirus programs available online, but make sure the one you choose is from a reputable source, such as the official Microsoft store. There are many malicious apps online that are advertised as antivirus software.
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