How to Speed Up a Slow Laptop: 12 Fixes That Actually Work

To speed up a slow laptop, first stop the apps that launch at startup, free up storage and update Windows; these free fixes take ten minutes. If it is still slow, swapping a hard disk for an SSD is the single biggest upgrade, followed by adding RAM.

Updated 29 October 2026.

Find what’s slowing it down

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and click the Performance tab. – Disk at 100% for minutes: usually an old hard disk (fix 11). – Memory above 85%: too little RAM or too many apps (fixes 2, 5, 12). – CPU high while idle: background apps, malware or overheating (fixes 6, 8, 9).

Not sure? Start with the causes in why is my laptop so slow.

Free fixes in 10 minutes

1. Restart properly. Shutting the lid isn’t a restart. Restart once a day if you use sleep a lot.
2. Turn off startup apps. Task Manager > Startup apps > disable everything you don’t need straight away (chat apps, game launchers, updaters). More: fix slow laptop startup.
3. Run Windows Update and install pending driver updates, then restart.
4. Switch power mode. Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode > Best performance when plugged in. Laptops often stay in battery saver after a KPLC outage drained them.
5. Tame the browser. Close tabs you aren’t using and remove extensions you don’t recognise. Chrome with 30 tabs can use more memory than Windows itself.

Storage and startup clean-up

1. Remove bloatware and doubled-up antivirus. Shop-installed laptops often come with trial antivirus plus junk “optimisers”. Windows Security is built in; running two antivirus programmes slows everything. Uninstall extras in Settings > Apps.
2. Free up space. Keep at least 15–20% of the drive free. Turn on Storage Sense (Settings > System > Storage), empty Downloads and move videos to an external drive or cloud.
3. Scan for malware. Run a full scan in Windows Security. Cracked software and “free” downloads are common carriers.

Heat, dust and power settings

1. Clean the vents. Kenyan road dust clogs fans, the laptop overheats and slows itself down to cool off. Blow out the vents with compressed air, or have a fundi open and clean it. Signs and fixes: laptop overheating fix.
2. Use it on a hard surface. Beds and laps block the air intake. A cheap stand or cooling pad helps.

Upgrades worth paying for

1. Replace the hard disk with an SSD. Boot time drops from minutes to seconds, and apps open several times faster. A 512 GB SSD typically costs around KES 6,000–10,000, plus a small fee to clone your data. Why it matters: SSD vs HDD.
2. Add RAM. If memory is regularly above 85%, going from 4 GB to 8 GB, or 8 GB to 16 GB, makes multitasking smooth. An 8 GB DDR4 stick is often about KES 4,000–6,500 (typical shop prices; RAM prices move a lot). Check first that your laptop has a free slot and the RAM isn’t soldered.

Do the SSD first if you still have a hard disk; it helps more than RAM on almost every older laptop.

When it’s time to replace

Upgrading stops making sense when: – The processor can’t run Windows 11 (roughly older than Intel 8th gen or AMD Ryzen 2000), so security updates have ended. – RAM is soldered at 4 GB. – Repairs (battery, screen, keyboard) would cost close to a good ex-UK replacement.

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