The laptop slows down: what to do to get it back up to speed?

Has your laptop become slower in opening programs, hesitates when switching between browser tabs, or even freezes for a few seconds? This is a common problem faced by device users of all ages - from ASUS ZenBook to MacBook Pro 2018. The reasons for the brakes can lie in both hardware faults and software errors. But in 80% of cases the situation can be corrected without contacting a service center.

In this article we will look at all possible reasons for the slowdown - from processor overheating to hard drive fragmentation, and we’ll also give step by step instructions to speed up a laptop Windows 10/11, macOS And Linux. We will pay special attention hidden power consumption settings that manufacturers (for example, Lenovo or HP) often limited by default to increase battery life. You'll learn how to restore performance without voiding your warranty or buying new hardware.

1. Diagnostics: why did the laptop start to slow down?

Before you begin optimization, you need to identify the bottleneck. Brakes can manifest themselves in different ways:

• 🐢 Long system boot time (more than 1-2 minutes) - a problem with the hard drive or startup.
• ⚡ Freezes when opening programs - lack of RAM or background processes.
• 🔥 Spontaneous shutdowns or reboots — overheating or malfunction of the power supply.
• 🖥️ Lags in games/videos - weak video card or drivers.

For accurate diagnostics, use the built-in tools:

• 🪛 Windows: Win + R → enter resmon → tab CPU, Memory, Disk.
• 🍎 macOS: Applications → Utilities → System Monitoring.
• 🐧 Linux: teams top, htop or glances in the terminal.

⚠️ Attention: If in Task Manager (Windows) or System monitoring (macOS) process System or kernel_task is constantly loading the CPU at 50%+, this may indicate virus or SSD/HDD malfunction. In this case, go straight to the section about checking for viruses.

2. System cleaning: remove junk and unnecessary programs

Over time, the laptop accumulates browser cache, temporary system update files, remnants of deleted programs. This may take up to 10–15 GB disk space and slow down performance. Let's start with the simplest steps:

Step 1: Disk Cleanup in Windows:

1. Open This computer, right-click on the system disk (usually C:) → Properties → Disk Cleanup.
2. Check all the boxes, especially Temporary files, Cart, Update log files.
3. Click Clean system files (Administrator rights required).

Step 2. Remove unnecessary programs:

• 🧹 Go to Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features.
• 🔍 Sort the list by installation date - often the brakes start after installing “heavy” programs (for example, Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office 365).
• 🗑️ Remove everything you don’t use. Pay special attention pre-installed software from the manufacturer (for example, McAfee on HP, Norton on Dell).

For macOS: use the utility Cleaning in Launchpad or third party programs like CleanMyMac X (paid, but there is a trial period). For Linux: clear package manager cache:

sudo apt clean  # Для Debian/Ubuntu
sudo pacman -Sc  # Для Arch Linux

⚠️ Attention: Don't delete files from folders Windows, Program Files or System32 by hand! This may lead to system inoperability. Use only built-in tools or proven programs (for example, CCleaner, but with caution - disable registry cleaning!).

3. Optimization of startup and background processes

One of the main reasons why a laptop boots slowly is oversaturated startup. Many programs (for example, Skype, Discord, Steam) are added there without your knowledge and consume resources even when you are not using them.

How to disable autostart in Windows 10/11:

1. Click Ctrl + Shift + Esc → open Task Manager → tab Autoload.
2. Sort programs by column Impact on launch.
3. Disable everything except antivirus and drivers (for example, NVIDIA GeForce Experience or Realtek Audio).

For macOS: go to System Settings → Users and Groups → Login Items. For Linux: check startup folders:

ls ~/.config/autostart/  # Пользовательские автозапуски
ls /etc/xdg/autostart/    # Системные автозапуски

Also worth checking background processes:

• 🔍 B Windows open Settings → Privacy → Background apps and disable unnecessary ones.
• 🍎 B macOS open System monitoring → Energy and see which programs consume the most energy.

4. Check for viruses and malware

Viruses and mining bots can secretly use up to 90% of CPU/GPU resources, because of which the laptop begins to slow down, heat up and quickly discharge. Even if you have an antivirus installed, it does not always detect all threats.

Step 1. Scan in Safe Mode:

1. Reboot your laptop and hold Shift + F8 (or F8 on older PCs) to log in Safe Mode.
2. Run a built-in scan Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus (for example, Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool, Dr.Web CureIt!).

Step 2. Check for mining viruses:

• 🛡️ Open Task Manager and check processes with high CPU/GPU load (for example, svchost.exe with 50% load - a reason to be wary).
• 🔗 Use the utility Process Explorer from Microsoft for detailed process analysis.

For macOS: There are fewer viruses, but they are there. Check the system with Malwarebytes or Avast Security. For Linux: scan with the command:

sudo clamav /  # Проверка всех файлов (требуется установка ClamAV)

⚠️ Attention: If the antivirus finds threats in files like explorer.exe or lsass.exe, don't delete them - these are system files that viruses can replace. In this case, it is better to create a topic on the forum Kaspersky Lab or Dr.Web with scan logs.

5. Optimizing your hard drive (HDD) or SSD

If you have HDD, over time, files become fragmented, and the disk head has to “run” across the entire surface, which slows down reading/writing. SSD not subject to fragmentation, but may slow down due to overcrowding or worn-out cells.

For HDD (Windows):

1. Open This computer → right click on the disk → Properties → Service → Optimize.
2. Select the drive and click Optimize (defragmentation).

For SSD (any OS):

• 📉 Check the free space - if less 10–15% of volume, the recording speed drops by 2–3 times. Make room.
• 🔧 Turn it on TRIM (for Windows): Open a command prompt as administrator and type:

fsutil behavior set disabledeletenotify 0

Checking disk health:

• 💾 Use CrystalDiskInfo (Windows) or smartctl (Linux/macOS) for analysis S.M.A.R.T.-status.
• 🚨 If the parameters Reallocated Sectors Count or Uncorrectable Errors matter more than 10, the disk will soon fail - make a backup urgently!

S.M.A.R.T. parameter	Normal value	Critical value	What does it mean
Reallocated Sectors Count	0–5	>10	Number of sectors remapped (disk wear)
Power-On Hours	<10 000	>30 000	Disk operating time in hours
UDMA CRC Error Count	0	>1	Cable transmission errors
Current Pending Sector	0	>0	Sectors that the disk cannot read

6. Setting up power supply and cooling

Laptop manufacturers (eg. Acer, MSI) often limit performance in battery mode to extend battery life. This can lead to artificial “braking” even on powerful devices.

How to enable maximum performance in Windows:

1. Open Control Panel → Power Options.
2. Select a scheme High performance (if it is not there, click Show additional diagrams).
3. Click Set up power plan → Change advanced settings and install:

• 🔌 Minimum processor state → 100% (for from the network And from battery).
• 💨 System Cooling Policy → Active.

For macOS: open System Settings → Energy Saving and disable the option Dim the display slightly when running on battery power. Also install iStat Menus for temperature control.

Cooling check:

• 🌡️ Use HWMonitor (Windows) or Macs Fan Control (macOS) for temperature monitoring.
• 💨 If the CPU/GPU temperature exceeds 85°C in idle time or 95°C under load, the laptop will throttle (reset frequencies). Clean the cooling system from dust or replace the thermal paste.

How to clean your laptop from dust yourself

1. Turn off the laptop and disconnect the battery (if removable).

2. Unscrew the bottom cover (usually a Phillips screwdriver is needed).

3. Carefully blow off dust from the radiator and fan using a can of compressed air (do not use a vacuum cleaner!).

4. If the thermal paste is dry (gray, hard), remove it with alcohol and apply new one (for example, Arctic MX-6).

5. Reassemble the laptop and check the temperatures in HWMonitor.

⚠️ If you are not confident in your abilities, contact the service!

7. Update drivers and BIOS

Outdated or incorrectly installed drivers may cause hardware conflicts, due to which the laptop slows down or allocates resources incorrectly. This is especially true for drivers:

• 🖥️ Video cards (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
• 🔊 Sound card (Realtek, Dolby).
• 📶 Network adapters (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth).
• 🔋 Power management (ACPI).

How to update drivers on Windows:

1. Click Win + X → Device Manager.
2. Expand the category (for example, Video adapters) → right click on the device → Update driver → Automatic search.
3. If Windows does not find updates, download drivers from the laptop manufacturer's website (for example, support.lenovo.com for Lenovo).

BIOS update: This is a risky procedure, but sometimes solves compatibility and performance problems.

• 🔧 Download the latest BIOS version from the manufacturer’s website (for example, for ASUS ROG — rog.asus.com).
• 💾 Follow the instructions (usually you need to run .exe-file in Windows or flash via USB in the BIOS menu).

⚠️ Attention: Don't interrupt the BIOS update process - this can lead to complete laptop inoperability. Make sure the battery is 100% charged and the laptop is plugged in. If you are not sure, contact the service.

8. Radical measures: resetting the system or replacing components

If none of the above helps, the problem may be deeper:

• 🔄 Reset Windows/macOS to factory settings. This will remove all programs and files, but will return the system to a “clean” state. Instructions:

# Для Windows 10/11:
Настройки → Обновление и безопасность → Восстановление → Вернуть компьютер в исходное состояние

# Для macOS:
Перезагрузите ноутбук с зажатыми Command + R → Дисковая утилита → Стереть том → Переустановить macOS

Replacement of components: if the laptop is more than 3-4 years old, perhaps its hardware is simply outdated. The most effective upgrades:

Accessories	Symptoms of a problem	Replacement recommendation	Performance boost
Random access memory (RAM)	Laptop slows down when opening 5+ browser tabs	Add another 8–16 GB (for example, Crucial SODIMM DDR4)	up to 40%
Hard disk (HDD)	Long system loading times, freezes when copying files	Replace with SSD (eg Samsung 870 EVO)	up to 300%
Thermal paste	The laptop overheats, throttles (resets frequencies)	Cleaning + replacement of paste (for example, Noctua NT-H2)	up to 20%
Battery	Laptop turns off when unplugged, even if battery shows charge	Battery replacement (original or certified analogue)	—

If you decide to upgrade your laptop, check the compatibility of components on the manufacturer’s website or using the utility Crucial System Scanner.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about laptop brakes

❓ The laptop slows down only on battery power. What's the matter?

Most likely, the power saving mode is set in the power settings. Switch to schema High performance (see section 6). Also check the battery for wear: if its capacity has dropped below 50% of its original capacity, the laptop may be limiting performance. Replace the battery or use the laptop only on mains power.

❓ After updating Windows, the laptop began to slow down. What to do?

Updates sometimes conflict with drivers. Try:

1. Roll back to a previous version of Windows: Settings → Update & Security → Recovery → Return to previous version.
2. Update drivers manually (see section 7).
3. If the problem persists, wait for the next patch from Microsoft or contact support.

❓ The laptop slows down in games, although the hardware is powerful. What is the reason?

Possible reasons:

• 🎮 Outdated video card drivers (update via GeForce Experience or AMD Adrenalin).
• 🔥 Overheating (check temperatures in MSI Afterburner).
• ⚙️ Incorrect graphics settings in the game (lower resolution or disable ray tracing).
• 🖥️ Background processes (close Discord, browser, Steam through Task Manager).

Also check if the game is using integrated graphics instead of discrete. B NVIDIA Control Panel Set your gaming preference to a high-performance GPU.

❓ Is it possible to speed up a laptop using an external SSD?

Yes, but with reservations:

• ✅ If you connect the SSD via USB 3.0/3.1 or Thunderbolt, you can transfer the system and programs to it. The speed will be close to the internal SSD (up to 400–500 MB/s for USB 3.0).
• ❌ This solution is not suitable for games - there will be a strong drop in FPS due to USB delays.
• 💡 It's better to use an external SSD to store files or backups.

Recommended models: Samsung T7 Shield, SanDisk Extreme Pro.

❓ How to check if your laptop is slowing down due to the Internet?

Slow Internet can create the illusion of slowdowns (for example, long loading pages in the browser). Check:

1. Connection speed at speedtest.net (must be at least 50% of the provider's tariff).
2. Network load in Task Manager (Windows) or System monitoring (macOS). If someone “eats” traffic (for example, svchost.exe), check your system for viruses.
3. Connect your laptop to the network via cable (if you used Wi-Fi) - the problem may be with the router.