It feels like the worlds getting more and more fast paced with advancements in technology helping us to do things quicker and more conveniently then ever; So when your laptop starts getting a little slow, we know it can be one of the most frustrating and irritating things. Whether it’s for work, study or entertainment, a sluggish laptop that leaves you staring at loading screens, isn’t fun or practical for anyone. Fortunately, there’s a few quick and easy techniques you can use to breathe new life into your PC without having to spend hours rebuilding it or investing in expensive upgrades. Here’s ten tips and tricks for how you can boost your laptop’s performance in just a few minutes, without needing to spend any money.

1. Declutter Your Desktop and Close Unnecessary Background Programs

A cluttered desktop is more than just inconvenient and a bit of an eyesore, it could also be slowing down your laptop. Every icon and shortcut on your desktop takes up a small amount of PCs operating resources. Clearing unnecessary files and organising the rest into folders can make a surprising difference. Once your desktop is tidy, your laptop will have fewer background processes to handle, which can help it run faster.
Every time you do anything on your PC, there could be several applications running in the background without you even realising it, draining valuable system resources. To identify and close these programs, you can use use your laptop’s task manager. To find this, on Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, on Mac, go to the Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder; And then you can look for applications using a significant amount of CPU or memory and close anything you don’t need. This simple step can immediately free up resources and improve performance.

2. Check Your Storage Space and Uninstall Unused Software

When your laptop’s storage is nearly full, its performance can take a hit. To keep your PC you have at least 15-20% of free capacity. If you’re running low on storage, delete unnecessary files, uninstall unused programs or move large files to an external hard drive or cloud storage service. This simple housekeeping step can make a noticeable difference.
Over time, your laptop will accumulate software that you no longer need or use. These programs take up valuable storage space and often run unnecessary background processes that slow down your system. You can fix this by opening your settings and reviewing the software you have installed. Uninstall anything you don’t need, especially outdated trial versions or software bundles that came pre-installed. By removing unnecessary programs, you’ll not only free up storage space but also reduce the strain on your laptop’s operating system.

3. Update Your Operating System

Keeping your operating system, and other commonly used software, up to date is essential for maintaining performance. Updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements that help your laptop run more efficiently. You can check for updates manually if you don’t have automatic updates enabled; On Windows, go to Settings > Update & Security; On Mac, open the System Preferences and navigate to Software Update. Updating your system only takes a few minutes but can make a noticeable difference.

4. Disable Start-up Programs

Some programs are configured to start automatically when you turn on your laptop. While convenient for frequently used applications, too many start-up programs can significantly slow down your boot time and overall performance. Adjusting your start-up settings is simple; On Windows, open the task manager and navigate to the Startup tab to disable unnecessary programs: On Mac, go to System Preferences > Users & Groups and select Login Items to manage start-up applications. By limiting what runs on start-up, you can enjoy faster boot times and a more responsive system.

5. Optimise Your Browser and Clear Cache Files

If your laptop feels like it’s running slow while browsing the web, it might be your internet browser to blame. Browsers consume a large amount of memory, especially if you have multiple tabs open or extensions running. To free up resources and increase your loading speed, try closing unused tabs and disabling any unnecessary extensions.
When using a web browser, your laptop will store cached data to improve performance, but over time these files can accumulate and take up valuable storage space. Clearing them is a quick and easy way to speed up your laptop. Most browsers like Chrome, Firefox and Edge, all have settings that allow you to manage extensions and clear browsing data. Alternatively, you can remove cached files yourself; On Windows, use the Disk Cleanup tool to remove unnecessary files; On Mac, use the Finder to locate and delete cache files from the Library folder. There are also third-party tools, such as CCleaner, that can help automate the process.

6. Restart Your Laptop

It may sound simple, but restarting your laptop is one of the easiest ways to improve its performance. Restarting clears temporary files, resets system processes and releases memory that may have been clogged up by your apps. If you’ve noticed your laptop slowing down after extended use, a quick restart can work wonders.

7. Adjust Power Settings

Your PC’s power settings can have a significant impact on its performance; If you’re laptops running low on power, it may default to a “power saver” mode that limits performance to extend battery life. To boost performance, you can switch to a “balanced” or “high performance” mode, however it’s worth keeping in mind that high-performance settings will drain your battery much faster, so we’d recommend only using them if your not planning on using your laptop for long or if you have access to a power source.

8. Scan for Malware

Malware and viruses can severely impact your laptop’s performance by consuming resources or corrupting files. Running a quick antivirus scan can identify and remove harmful software. Most modern antivirus programs, including Windows Defender, come with a quick scan option that only takes a few minutes. Keeping your system protected will not only improve performance but also safeguard your data.

9. Defragmenting Your Hard Drive

If your laptop uses a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) rather than a solid-state drive (SSD), defragmenting it can help to improve performance. Over time, files on an HDD can become fragmented, meaning pieces of data are scattered across the disk, which slows down read and write speeds. On Windows, use the Defragment and Optimise Drives tool by searching for it in the start menu. Once opened, select your hard drive and click Optimise. This process reorganises the data for faster access. Keep in mind that this step is unnecessary for SSDs, as they do not require defragmentation.
By defragmenting your hard drive, you can enhance your laptop's speed and efficiency, particularly if you rely on older hardware.

10. Consider Adding More RAM or Storage

If your laptop consistently struggles with performance, a long-term solution could be a hardware upgrade. Adding more RAM or switching to a solid-state drive (SSD) can significantly improve speed and responsiveness. While this step isn’t something you can do in minutes, it’s worth considering if quick fixes aren’t enough. We’d advise consulting a professional first, however, to determine whether or not this is the right option for your laptop.

Boosting your laptop’s performance doesn’t have to be an expensive, time-consuming chore. By following these simple tips, you can optimise your system and get back to work without the frustration of a slow device. Regular maintenance, such as clearing temporary files and disabling unnecessary start-up programs, can also keep your laptop running smoothly over the long term. In just a few minutes, you can easily transform your laptop into a faster, more efficient machine.