Why the laptop doesn't work well: reasons and solutions for Windows, macOS and Linux

Has your laptop suddenly taken longer to think than usual, programs take a minute to open instead of a second, and the fan makes noise like a jet plane? Such symptoms are familiar to most users, but not everyone knows what to do about it. Performance issues can occur on both older and newer devices, depending on a combination of hardware and software factors.

In this article we will look at 10 most common reasonswhy the laptop is slow, and we will give specific instructions to eliminate them. You will learn how to diagnose the problem, which settings to optimize, and in which cases you cannot do without an upgrade or repair. The material is relevant for Windows 10/11, macOS And Linux (taking into account the characteristics of each system).

Before running to the service center, try going through our checklist - in 80% of cases, performance can be restored on your own. And if you are not confident in your abilities, we will tell you when exactly you should turn to specialists.

1. RAM overload

One of the most common causes of brakes is lack of RAM. Modern browsers (especially Google Chrome), graphic editors (Photoshop, Illustrator) and even some messengers (Telegram, Discord) can “eat up” gigabytes of RAM. If you have 4–8 GB of memory installed, and the system uses 90%+, the laptop will start to freeze.

How to check:

• 🔍 Windows: open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) → tab Performance → Memory.
• 🍎 macOS: run System monitoring (in Programs → Utilities) → tab Memory.
• 🐧 Linux: enter the command in the terminal

  free -h

  or use the utility htop.

Solutions:

• ✅ Close unnecessary programs and tabs in the browser (one tab with YouTube in 4K can take up to 1 GB of RAM!).
• ✅ Disable background processes: in Windows check Autoload in the task manager, in macOS — Users and Groups → Login Items.
• ✅ If memory is critically low (for example, 4 GB per Windows 11), consider RAM upgrade - this is the most effective solution.

⚠️ Attention: On some laptops (eg MacBook Air M1/M2 or ultrabooks Dell XPS) memory is soldered to the motherboard. In this case, an upgrade is impossible - you will have to optimize the software or buy a new laptop.

2. Full hard drive (HDD/SSD)

If on the system disk (C: in Windows or / in Linux/macOS) less than 10–15% of free space remains, performance drops significantly. This is especially noticeable on HDD (regular hard drives), where data fragmentation exacerbates the problem. On SSD There are also limitations - when the capacity is more than 80%, the recording speed drops.

How to check:

• 📁 Windows: open This computer — free space is displayed under each disk.
• 🍏 macOS: click on the disk icon on the desktop → File → Receiving Information.
• 🐧 Linux: team

  df -h

  will show disk usage.

Solutions:

Problem	Solution	Tools
Junk files (cache, temporary files)	Cleaning using built-in utilities or third-party programs	CCleaner, BleachBit (Linux), Disk Cleanup (Windows)
Large unnecessary files (movies, games, archives)	Delete or transfer to external drive/cloud	WinDirStat (Windows), GrandPerspective (macOS)
Fragmentation (HDD only)	Disk defragmentation	Built-in utility Disk defragmentation and optimization (Windows)

⚠️ Attention: Don't use defragmentation for SSD - this shortens its service life! For SSD the command is enough TRIM (in Windows it is performed automatically in Linux launched manually:

sudo fstrim -av

).

Remove temporary files from %Temp% (Windows)

Clear browser cache (Chrome://settings/clearBrowserData)

Transfer heavy files (videos, games) to an external drive

Check folder Downloads to unnecessary files

Disable hibernation (if not used) via powercfg /h off (Windows)

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3. Overheating of the processor and video card

If laptop spontaneously reduces productivityswitches off suddenly or makes a lot of noise - the reason may be overheating. Modern processors (Intel Core i7/i9, AMD Ryzen 7/9) automatically reduce frequency (throttling) at high temperatures to avoid damage. Normal temperature under load - up to 85–90°C (higher is critical!).

How to check the temperature:

• 🌡️ Windows: HWMonitor, Core Temp, SpeedFan.
• 🍎 macOS: iStat Menus or Macs Fan Control.
• 🐧 Linux: team

  sensors

  (install package lm-sensors).

Causes of overheating and solutions:

• 🌀 Dust content: Disassemble the laptop (or contact service) and clean the fans/radiators with compressed air. This is especially true for laptops older than 2–3 years.
• 🧴 Dried thermal paste: If the processor temperature rises above 90°C when idle, it’s time to change the thermal paste. This requires experience or the help of a specialist.
• 🔌 Air intake blocking: Do not place the laptop on soft surfaces (blanket, sofa) - this will block ventilation. Use cooling pad.
• ⚙️ Incorrect BIOS settings: Some laptops (eg. Lenovo Legion, ASUS ROG) you can manually adjust the fan speed via BIOS or proprietary software (Armoury Crate, Lenovo Vantage).

How to Check Fan Speed in Windows

1. Install HWInfo (portable version does not require installation).

2. Launch the program and open the tab Sensors.

3. Find the lines Fan #1, Fan #2 — the current rotation speed (in RPM) is displayed there.

4. If the speed does not increase under load (or the fans do not spin at all), repair is required.

4. Viruses, mining bots and malware

Unlikely, but possible: your laptop could be infected viruses, cryptocurrency miners or spyware, which steal resources in the background. Symptoms: high load on the processor/video card for no apparent reason, slow Internet, appearance of unfamiliar processes in the task manager.

How to check:

• 🛡️ Open Task Manager (Windows) or System monitoring (macOS) and sort processes by CPU/GPU load. Unknown processes with high consumption are a cause for concern.
• 🔍 Run an antivirus scan. To be safe, use Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool or Malwarebytes (they are free and do not require installation).

What to do if you find a virus:

1. Disconnect your laptop from the Internet (to interrupt communication with the attackers’ server).
2. Run a full scan of your system disk.
3. If the antivirus fails, try it AdwCleaner (to remove adware) or HitmanPro.
4. As a last resort, reinstall the system (but save important data first!).

⚠️ Attention: Some mining bots disguise themselves as system processes (for example, svchost.exe on Windows). If in doubt, check the location of the process file through the task manager (right click → Open file storage location). System files should be in C:\Windows\System32.

5. Outdated or incompatible software

Drivers, operating system and programs require regular updates. If you haven't updated in a while Windows, macOS or Linux, some components may not work correctly, causing slowdowns, errors or conflicts.

What to update first:

• 🖥️ Drivers: Drivers are especially important for video cards (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel), chipset And network adapters. Outdated drivers can cause artifacts, stuttering in games, or problems with Wi-Fi.
• 🔄 Operating system: B Windows check for updates in Settings → Update & Security. B macOS — System settings → Software update.
• 📱 BIOS/UEFI: Updating the motherboard firmware can fix compatibility issues with new hardware. But be careful! Incorrect BIOS update can damage your laptop.

How to update drivers:

Component	Where to download	How to install
Video card (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel)	nvidia.com, amd.com, intel.ru	Download the latest version from the manufacturer's website and run the installer. For NVIDIA use GeForce Experience.
Chipset, sound, network (Realtek, Intel, Qualcomm)	Official website of the laptop manufacturer (Lenovo, HP, ASUS etc.)	Install via Device Manager (right click on device → Update driver).
BIOS/UEFI	Support section for your model on the manufacturer's website	Follow the manufacturer's instructions! Usually you need to create a bootable USB flash drive.

6. File system fragmentation (for HDD)

If your laptop has regular hard drive (HDD), not an SSD, over time the files on it fragmented. This means that parts of one file are scattered across different sectors of the disk, and the HDD head has to “jump” between them, which slows down reading/writing.

How to check fragmentation:

• 📊 B Windows open Disk optimization (find via search). Select the drive and click Analyze.
• 🐧B Linux use the command

  sudo e4defrag -c

  (for file system ext4).

How to fix:

• 🔧 B Windows click Optimize in the utility Disk optimization.
• ⚠️ Don't defragment SSD - this is useless and shortens its service life!
• 💾 If fragmentation occurs frequently, consider switching to SSD. This is the most effective upgrade solution for an old laptop.

7. Incorrect power settings

Many users do not pay attention to power supply circuits, but they directly affect performance. For example, in mode Energy Saving The processor runs at a reduced frequency, which leads to slowdowns.

How to set up:

• 🔋 Windows: Go to Control Panel → Power Options. Select a scheme High performance or customize yours:
• Install Minimum processor state 100%
• Disable PCI Express → Link State Power Management (put Off).
• 🍏 macOS: Open System Settings → Battery and turn off Optimized battery charging, if the laptop is running on network power.
• 🐧 Linux: Use the utility TLP to manage power or disable restrictions manually:

sudo cpufreq-set -g performance

Additional settings for gaming laptops:

• 🎮 B NVIDIA Control Panel (for NVIDIA video cards) select Manage 3D Settings → Power Preferences → Preference for maximum performance.
• ⚡ B BIOS some laptops (eg MSI, ASUS ROG) you can turn on the mode Turbo or Overclocking to overclock the processor.

8. Hardware faults

If all software methods have been tried, but the laptop still does not work well, the problem may be gland. Here are the most common hardware problems:

• 💾 Damaged hard drive (HDD/SSD): If the disk “crumbles” (appears bad sectors), the system begins to slow down, files become damaged, and sometimes the laptop does not turn on. You can check disk health using utilities CrystalDiskInfo (Windows) or smartctl (Linux).
• 🔌 Faulty RAM: If one of the RAM modules fails, the laptop may randomly reboot or freeze on a blue screen (BSOD on Windows). You can check your memory using MemTest86.
• 🔥 Failure of the north/south bridge: On older laptops (before 2015), there is often a problem with swelling of capacitors on the motherboard. Symptoms: the laptop does not turn on, turns on every once in a while, or turns off after a few minutes.
• 🔋 Worn battery: If the battery is swollen or its capacity drops below 20%, the laptop may turn off spontaneously or experience reduced performance. You can check battery wear in Windows with the command

  powercfg /batteryreport

  (the report is saved in the user's folder).

What to do:

• If there is a problem with HDD/SSD — urgently copy important data and replace the disk. For a temporary solution you can use chkdsk /f (Windows) or fsck (Linux), but this will not fix the physical damage.
• If faulty RAM — try removing and inserting the modules back (sometimes cleaning the contacts with an eraser helps). If errors remain, replace the bar.
• If there is a problem with motherboard or processor - You can’t do without repairs. In some cases it helps re-soldering of chips, but this is expensive and not always advisable.

⚠️ Attention: If laptop turns on but does not boot the system (black screen, blinking cursor), try booting from Live USB (For example, Ubuntu or Windows PE). If the problem persists, it is almost certainly a hardware failure.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about laptop slowness

My laptop only slows down when playing games. What's the problem?

Most likely, the reason is one of the following factors:

• 🎮 Outdated video card drivers - update them via GeForce Experience (NVIDIA) or Adrenalin (AMD).
• ⚡ CPU/GPU throttling due to overheating - check temperatures (see section 3).
• 🖥️ Lack of RAM — close background programs or add RAM.
• ⚙️ Low power settings - switch to the diagram High performance.

Also check if it is enabled VSync in the game settings - it can limit FPS.

The laptop began to work slowly after updating Windows. What to do?

Windows updates sometimes cause conflicts with drivers or settings. Try:

1. Roll back to the previous version: Settings → Update & Security → Recovery → Go back to a previous version of Windows (available for 10 days after update).
2. Update drivers manually (especially for the video card and chipset).
3. Disable unnecessary services: click Win+R, enter msconfig, go to the tab Services and disable everything except system ones.
4. Reset the update cache: open Command line as administrator and enter:

   net stop wuauserv
   net stop cryptSvc
   net stop bits
   net stop msiserver
   ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
   ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
   net start wuauserv
   net start cryptSvc
   net start bits
   net start msiserver

The laptop gets hot and slows down even when idle. What to check?

If the laptop heats up without load, the problem may be:

• 🌀 Dustiness — disassemble the laptop and clean the fans.
• 🧴 Dried thermal paste — Replacement is required (preferably at a service center).
• 🔄 Background processes — check the task manager for suspicious programs (mining, viruses).
• ⚙️ Incorrect BIOS settings - reset settings to factory defaults (Load Default Settings).

Also try disabling Turbo Boost (if your processor has it) - this will reduce the temperature, but also performance.

Is it worth changing the HDD to an SSD to speed up your laptop?

Yes, this is the most effective upgrade solution for an old laptop! SSD speeds up:

• 🚀 System loading (from 1–2 minutes to 10–20 seconds).
• 📁 Opening programs and files (3-5 times faster).
• 🔄 Multitasking (SSD copes better with the simultaneous operation of several programs).

Cons:

• 💰 SSD is more expensive than HDD for the same volume (but 256–512 GB is enough for the system).
• 📉 The service life of an SSD is limited by the number of write cycles (but for home use it will last for 5–10 years).

Recommendations for selection:

• For office work: Samsung 870 EVO, Crucial MX500.
• For games and heavy tasks: Samsung 980 Pro (PCIe 4.0), WD Black SN850X.
• Budget option: Kingston A400, ADATA SU635.

Is it possible to speed up a laptop without an upgrade?

Yes! Here's what you can do free:

1. Clean the system of debris (CCleaner, Disk Cleanup).
2. Disable startup of unnecessary programs.
3. Update your drivers and system.
4. Reinstall Windows (if the system is littered with years of use).
5. Use light alternatives to heavy programs (for example, LibreOffice instead of Microsoft Office, Paint.NET instead of Photoshop).
6. Turn off visual effects: On Windows, go to Settings → Accessibility → Transparency effects and turn them off.

If your laptop still slows down, consider cloud solutions (For example, Google Docs instead of local Word or GeForce NOW for games).