You turn on your laptop, go get some coffee, come back, and “loading” is still scrolling on the screen. Or the system has finally started, but opening a browser or document becomes torture: the cursor freezes, programs do not respond, and the fan makes noise like a turbine. Is this a familiar picture?

Slow loading and brakes are not always a sign of an “aging” device. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved without purchasing new hardware or reinstalling the system. We have analyzed 12 most common reasons (from clogged cache to viruses in UEFI) and collected step by step instructions with proven acceleration methods for Windows 10/11 And macOS. At the end of the article there is a checklist for quick diagnostics and answers to frequently asked questions.

1. The disk is 90%+ clogged - the main reason for the brakes

If on the system disk (C: on Windows or Macintosh HD on a Mac) with less than 10% free space left, the operating system begins to choke. The reason is simple: there is not enough space for temporary files, cache and virtual memory, and the system is forced to constantly rewrite data, which slows down work by 3-5 times.

How to check:

  • 📊 Windows: open Explorer → This PC. Hover over the disk C: — information about free space will appear.
  • 🍎 macOS: click on the icon Apple → About This Mac → Storage.

Free space limit:

Disk typeMinimum stockOptimal stock
HDD (hard disk)15–20%30% or more
SSD (Solid State Drive)10%20–25%
macOS (APFS)10 GB20 GB or more

How to clean up a disk without losing important files:

  • 🧹Delete temporary files via Disk Cleanup (Windows) or Optimized Storage (macOS).
  • 🗑️ Empty the trash and folder Downloads — Gigabytes of unnecessary files often accumulate there.
  • 🎮 Remove unused programs via Settings → Applications (Windows) or Launchpad (macOS).
  • 📁 Transfer heavy files (videos, games, archives) to an external drive or to the cloud.
⚠️ Attention: Don't delete folders Windows, Program Files or System32 by hand! This will lead to the collapse of the system. For deep cleaning use CCleaner (just check the “Clean up the registry” checkbox) or CleanMyMac.
📊 How often do you clean your disk of unnecessary files?
  • Once a week
  • Once a month
  • Only when the laptop starts to slow down
  • Never

2. Autoboot: why does the laptop take 10 minutes to boot?

Average boot time for Windows 10/11 - 15–30 seconds. If your laptop turns on for more than 2-3 minutes, startup is to blame: dozens of programs are launched along with the system, which “eat up” the RAM and processor.

How to check startup:

  • 🪟 Windows: press Ctrl+Shift+Esc → go to the tab Autoload. All programs that start when turned on are displayed here.
  • 🍏 macOS: open System Preferences → Users and Groups → Login Items.

What can be disabled no risk:

  • 🎵 Spotify, iTunes, VK Music - music services.
  • 📧 Skype, Telegram, Discord — instant messengers (they already work in the background).
  • 🖼️ Adobe Creative Cloud, NVIDIA GeForce Experience — background processes for software.
  • 🔄 OneDrive, Google Drive — cloud storage (if you don’t use auto-sync).
⚠️ Attention: Do not turn off Antivirus, Windows Services (For example, Windows Security) or drivers (for example, Realtek Audio). This can lead to vulnerabilities or non-functional devices (speakers, Wi-Fi).

How to disable autostart in Windows:

  1. Click Win + R, enter msconfig → go to the tab Autoload.
  2. Uncheck unnecessary programs and click OK.
  3. Restart your laptop.

☑️ Autoload optimization

Done: 0 / 4

3. Viruses and malware: hidden brakes

If the laptop suddenly starts to slow down (for example, yesterday everything worked fine, but today it’s like crazy), the cause may be viruses. Modern malware not only steals data, but also:

  • 🕵️‍♂️ Mines cryptocurrency in the background, loading the processor by 90–100%.
  • 📤 Sends spam from your IP, clogging the network.
  • 🔄 Replaces the registry, due to which the system is unstable.

How to check your laptop for viruses:

  1. Run full check built-in antivirus:
    • 🪟 Windows Defender: Start → Settings → Update & Security → Windows Security → Virus Protection.
    • 🍏 macOS: use XProtect (built-in) or Malwarebytes (free version).
  • Download Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool or Dr.Web CureIt! — they do not require installation and even find hidden threats.
  • Check browser extensions: remove suspicious plugins in Chrome://extensions or about:addons (Firefox).

    • Signs of infection:

    SymptomLikely threat
    Laptop gets hot and noisy without loadMiner or Trojan
    Ads appear in the browser even on clean websitesAdware
    Files began to “disappear” or become encryptedRansomware
    Internet traffic is growing for no reasonBotnet or spyware
    ⚠️ Attention: If the antivirus found rootkit or a virus in MBR (master boot record), do not try to remove it manually! Use Kaspersky Rescue Disk (boot antivirus) or contact a specialist.
    What to do if the antivirus does not find viruses, but the laptop slows down?

    Try alternative methods:

    1. Check Task Manager for suspicious processes (for example, svchost.exe with high load).

    2. Open Job Scheduler (taskschd.msc) - there may be hidden tasks from viruses.

    3. Install Process Explorer (from Microsoft) - it will show “masked” processes.

    4. Disk fragmentation (HDD only)

    If you have hard disk (HDD), not SSD, the brakes may be due to fragmentation. Over time, the files "split" into thousands of pieces, and the disk head has to "jump" across the entire surface to collect them. As a result, reading speed drops by 10–50 times.

    How to check fragmentation:

    1. Click Win + R, enter dfgui → click Enter.
    2. Select drive C: and press Analyze.
    3. If fragmentation > 10%, defragmentation is required.

    How to fix:

    • 🔄 Launch defragmentation:
      1. Open Explorer → This PC.
      2. RMB on disk C: → Properties → Service → Optimize.
      3. Select the drive and click Optimize.
  • ⚡ For SSD defragmentation prohibited! Instead use the command optimize-volumes in PowerShell (administrator): 
    Optimize-Volume -DriveLetter C -ReTrim -Verbose

    • Important: HDD defragmentation should be carried out once every 1–2 months. For SSDs - only the ReTrim command (it clears “junk” cells).

    5. Lack of random access memory (RAM)

    If when you open 3-4 tabs in the browser or start Photoshop the laptop starts to freeze, the problem is lack of RAM. Modern programs are “gluttonous”: one tab Chrome with YouTube can take up to 1 GB of RAM, and AutoCAD or games - up to 8–16 GB.

    How to check RAM usage:

    1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
    2. Go to the tab Performance → Memory.
    3. If free < 1 GB During normal operation, there is a critical lack of memory.

    Solutions:

    • 🔄 Close unnecessary programs. For example, Telegram And Steam can take up 300–500 MB each, even in the background.
    • 🛠️ Upgrade RAM. For office work, 8 GB is enough, for games/design - 16 GB. Check the maximum memory capacity for your model on the manufacturer's website (for example, Crucial System Scanner).
    • 🖥️ Use a swap file (if RAM < 8 GB):
      1. Open Control Panel → System → Advanced system settings → Performance → Settings → Advanced.
      2. Click Edit in section Virtual memory.
      3. Select drive C:, check “Specify size” and set:
        • Original size: 1.5 × RAM capacity (for example, for 4 GB RAM - 6144 MB).
        • Maximum size: 3 × RAM capacity (for example, 12288 MB).
    ⚠️ Attention: If you have macOS and the laptop is slowing down due to lack of RAM, try disabling visual effects: System Preferences → Accessibility → Display → Reduce Transparency And Reduce movement.
    💡

    If you can't update your RAM, try your browser Firefox instead of Chrome — it consumes 20–30% less memory with a large number of tabs.

    6. Overheating: why the laptop “chokes” itself

    If laptop turns off by itself, gets very hot or slows down after 10-15 minutes of operation, the problem is overheating. When the temperature is above 90°C, the processor automatically reduces frequency (throttling) so as not to burn out - hence the “lags”.

    How to check the temperature:

    • 🌡️ Install HWMonitor (Windows) or iStat Menus (macOS).
    • Run a stress test (eg Prime95 or Cinebench).
    • If the processor temperature (> 85°C) or video card (> 75°C) - critical.

    Causes of overheating and solutions:

    ProblemHow to fix
    Dust in the coolerClean the laptop with compressed air or contact service.
    Dried thermal pasteReplace thermal paste (eg Arctic MX-4).
    Working on a soft surfaceUse cooling pad or a hard surface.
    Faulty fanCheck the speed in HWMonitor (should be > 2000 RPM under load).

    Emergency measures (if there is no time to clean):

    • 🔉 Reduce the maximum processor frequency:
      1. Open Control Panel → Power Options → Set up power plan → Change advanced settings.
      2. Find CPU Power Management → Maximum CPU State.
      3. Install 90% (instead of 100%).
  • 🧊 Use cooling pad USB powered (eg Cooler Master NotePal X3).
    • 💡

    If the processor temperature under load exceeds 95°C, turn off the laptop immediately! Further work may lead to irreversible damage chip.

    7. Outdated drivers and BIOS/UEFI

    Drivers are “translators” between the hardware and the system. If they are outdated, the laptop may slow down and not see the device (for example, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) or work unstably. Drivers are especially critical for:

    • 🖥️ Video cards (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel).
    • 🔊 Sound card (Realtek, Dolby).
    • 📶 Network adapters (Wi-Fi, Ethernet).
    • 💾 Drives (SSD/HDD).

    How to update drivers:

    1. Automatically (recommended):
      • 🪟 Windows: Start → Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → View additional updates.
      • 🍏 macOS: System settings → Software update.
    2. Manually (if automatic update did not help):
      • Download drivers from manufacturer's official website (do not use third party programs like Driver Booster!).
      • For video card:

    How to update BIOS/UEFI (for advanced users only!):

    1. Find out the motherboard model (for example, via CPU-Z or command wmic baseboard get product in CMD).
    2. Download the latest BIOS from the manufacturer's website (for example, ASUS, Lenovo, HP).
    3. Follow the manufacturer's instructions (usually starting .exe-file in Windows or firmware via USB).
    ⚠️ Attention: Continuous power supply is critical when updating BIOS! If the laptop turns off while flashing the firmware, the motherboard may fail. Use Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or a laptop with > 50% charged battery.

    8. System crash or damaged files

    If the laptop starts to slow down after incorrect shutdown, Windows updates or program installation, system files may be damaged. In this case, built-in recovery utilities help.

    How to check system integrity:

    • 🪟 Windows:
      1. Open Command line as administrator (Win + X → Command Prompt (Administrator)).
      2. Enter one by one: 
        sfc /scannow

        dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

      3. Restart your laptop.
    • 🍎 macOS:
      1. Boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift when turned on).
      2. Open Terminal and enter: 
        sudo periodic daily weekly monthly
      3. Reboot normally.

    If system utilities did not help:

    • 🔄 Restore the system from the restore point:
      1. Windows: Start → Settings → Update and Security → Recovery → Reset your computer.
      2. macOS: Restart your laptop → Hold Command + R → Select "Restore from Time Machine Backup".
  • 🛠️ Reinstall the system (extreme case). Save your data to an external drive!
    • What to do if Windows won't boot at all?

    1. Create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows on another PC (use Media Creation Tool).

    2. Boot from the USB flash drive (in BIOS, select boot priority).

    3. Select System Restore → Troubleshooting → Startup Repair.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about laptop brakes

    ❓ The laptop slows down only in games. What's the problem?

    Most likely to blame video card or overheating. Check:

    1. GPU temperature (should be < 80°C under load).
    2. Video card drivers (update via GeForce Experience or AMD Adrenalin).
    3. In-game graphics settings (lower resolution or disable ray tracing).
    ❓ Why does my laptop slow down after updating Windows?

    Updates sometimes conflict with drivers or programs. Try:

    • Roll back update: Settings → Update & Security → View update history → Uninstall updates.
    • Update drivers (especially for the video card and chipset).
    • Execute sfc /scannow on the command line.
    ❓ MacBook began to slow down after updating macOS. What to do?

    In new versions of macOS (for example, Sonoma or Ventura) there may be bugs. Solutions:

    • Clear cache: open Terminal and enter: 
      sudo purge
    • Reset NVRAM: Turn off your Mac, turn it on and immediately hold Command + Option + P + R 20 seconds.
    • Disable visual effects: System Preferences → Accessibility → Display → Reduce Transparency.
    ❓ The laptop slows down on the battery, but works fine from the network. Why?

    In the power settings, the mode can be activated energy saving, which limits performance. Correcting:

    1. Open Control Panel → Power Options.
    2. Select a scheme High performance.
    3. Click Set up power plan → Change advanced power settings.
    4. Install Maximum CPU performance: 100% for both states (mains/battery).
    ❓ Is it possible to speed up an old laptop without an upgrade?

    Yes! Try:

    • Install light OS: Windows 10 LTSC, Linux Mint or ChromeOS Flex.
    • Replace HDD on SSD - this gives an increase in speed up to 500%.
    • Use cloud services (For example, Google Docs instead of Microsoft Office).
    • Disable visual effects: 
      Панель управления → Система → Дополнительные параметры системы → Быстродействие → Параметры → Обеспечить лучшее быстродействие