My computer is acting slow. What do I do?
Please check the following information in order to determine why your machine is running slower than expected:
Left click the search bar at the bottom left of the screen.
Type "Task Manager" and open the program.
At the top row, you will see CPU percentage and Memory percentage.
Whichever percentage is higher, left click and it will sort by what is using the most memory / CPU.
The top programs are what is using the most of that resource.
You can also limit what programs are being run when the machine is being started up. In the same Task Manager window, select the following:
Select "Startup" along the tabs at the top of the Task Manager window.
Right click and select disable on any programs that you do not need immediately when the machine is starting up.
The Startup Impact measures how much of an impact the program has on Windows as it is starting up.
It is also possible that there are malicious programs on your machine that are causing the Windows to slow. Windows Defender is always running on Windows 10, however you can perform a scan through the following steps:
Left click the search bar at the bottom left of the screen.
Type "Windows Security" and select the first option available.
On the left side of the screen, select "Virus & threat protection".
Select the option "Quick scan" to scan for any malintent programs, and remove them.
If the machine is still acting slow after these steps, it is recommended to re-install the Windows to remove any old software or programs that may still be in the background. Please scroll up for options on how to do this.
Please note that if your computer is still running slow after these steps, and you are trying to run a specific program or software that requires high demands, your machine may not be suitable or capable of running the program properly due to low specifications on the device. Please cross reference the minimum requirements of the program or software that you are attempting to run, and the specifications of the machine to determine if it is capable of running the program properly.
Left click the search bar at the bottom left of the screen.
Type "Task Manager" and open the program.
At the top row, you will see CPU percentage and Memory percentage.
Whichever percentage is higher, left click and it will sort by what is using the most memory / CPU.
The top programs are what is using the most of that resource.
You can also limit what programs are being run when the machine is being started up. In the same Task Manager window, select the following:
Select "Startup" along the tabs at the top of the Task Manager window.
Right click and select disable on any programs that you do not need immediately when the machine is starting up.
The Startup Impact measures how much of an impact the program has on Windows as it is starting up.
It is also possible that there are malicious programs on your machine that are causing the Windows to slow. Windows Defender is always running on Windows 10, however you can perform a scan through the following steps:
Left click the search bar at the bottom left of the screen.
Type "Windows Security" and select the first option available.
On the left side of the screen, select "Virus & threat protection".
Select the option "Quick scan" to scan for any malintent programs, and remove them.
If the machine is still acting slow after these steps, it is recommended to re-install the Windows to remove any old software or programs that may still be in the background. Please scroll up for options on how to do this.
Please note that if your computer is still running slow after these steps, and you are trying to run a specific program or software that requires high demands, your machine may not be suitable or capable of running the program properly due to low specifications on the device. Please cross reference the minimum requirements of the program or software that you are attempting to run, and the specifications of the machine to determine if it is capable of running the program properly.
Updated on: 01/02/2025
Thank you!