Is Your Windows PC Slow on Startup? Try These 10 Fixes
While browsing the internet, you may have come across suggestions such as switching to an SSD, updating the graphics card driver, increasing RAM, and updating Windows. However, even after following these recommendations, if your Windows PC is still taking too long to boot, what choices do you have? That’s exactly what we will discuss today.
Table of Contents
1. Is Your Fast Startup Enabled
Fast Startup is a feature that enables your Windows computer to boot up quickly, but sometimes it can also be the main culprit for slow PC startup. In such cases, disabling it could be a wise decision. With that said, here’s how to disable Fast Startup on your Windows:
1.Open theWindows Search Boxand look for theChoose a power plansetting. Once found, click on it.
2.Now on the left sidebar, click theChoose what the power buttons do option.
3.To edit Shutdown settings, click onChange settings that are currently unavailable.
4.Lastly, enable theTurn on fast startupsetting and hit theSave changesbutton.
Note:Fast Startup doesn’t work on restart.
If you’re not seeing the Fast Startup option on your computer, it could be because hibernation is not enabled. To enable it, just open theCommand Prompt (Admin)orWindows PowerShell (Admin)from the Windows Search Box and enter the following command:
2. Do You Have Too Many Startup Apps
Many apps on your Windows computer run in the background, and some automatically configure themselves to start at boot, leading to strain on your system and slowing down startup speed.
Here’s how to disable startup apps:
1.PressCtrl + Shift + Escfrom your keyboard to open theTask Manager.
2.Next, click thehamburger menu(3-bar) and selectStartup Apps.
3.Now right-click on theappand choose theDisableoption.
Quick Note:Don’tblindly disable any appyou see. If the app is essential, keep it enabled or manually start it.
3. Disable Web Apps From Running in the Background
Many browsers allow web apps or extensions to run in the background, even after you close the browser. This can slow down boot times on Windows 10 or 11 computers. Since Chrome is popular, we’ll show you how to disable background apps in Chrome. For other browsers, simply Google search “disable background apps” followed by your browser name.
For Chrome, navigate toChrome Settings>Systemand disableContinue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.
Tip:Learn how to make yourGoogle Chrome faster on your Windows.
4. Run CHKDSK Scan
CHKDSK is a command that scans and repairs file system errors on your drives. It can fix corrupt or missing files, potentially resolving slow startup issues on your laptop or PC.
Here’s how to use CHKDSK (Check Disk) to repair or fix the hard drive/SSD:
1.TypeCMDin yourWindows Search boxand right-click on theCommand Prompt.
2.After that, selectRun as administrator.
3.Now type the following command based on your need:
4.If it shows the“chkdsk cannot run”message, type“Y”and pressEnterkey to schedule the scan after the computer restarts.
5. Perform SFC Scan
If your Windows PC is starting up slowly because of an error in the Windows system file, you may use the SFC command. This command is specifically designed to locate and fix errors in the Windows file system. To do that, open theCommand Prompt (Admin), enter the commandsfc /scannow, and pressEnter.
That’s all. It will begin scanning your computer for errors and fix them if any are found.
6. Is Your BIOS Outdated or Corrupted
The BIOS is responsible for initializing hardware components and providing the basic instructions for the computer to start up. So we believe updating the BIOS may resolve the issue.
However, this method carries some risks and if the update is not performed correctly or interrupted, it can make your computer unusable. Therefore, take proper precautions before proceeding with this method.
7. Have You Checked for Virus
Malware infections can significantly slow your computer’s startup. Fortunately, a good 3rd-party antivirus software or the built-in Windows Security app can protect you from many viruses.
Here’s how to use Windows Security on your PC:
1.Go toWindows Searchand look forWindows Securityapp.
2.Open theappand navigate toVirus & threat protectionsection. On the right side, click on theScan options.
3.Finally, select theFull scanoption and clickScan now.
We also advise you to remove any pirated software or games from the PC, as they are one of the biggest sources of malware and can easily degrade your computer’s performance, including boot speed.
8. Remove 3rd-Party Anti-virus Software
As mentioned earlier, Windows has built-in anti-virus software, so there’s no need for additional anti-virus software. Moreover, it also impacts both your PC’s performance and startup speed. Therefore, unless you require a specific feature not provided by the built-in software, it’s best to avoid installing additional anti-virus apps.
To check if your current antivirus is slowing down your boot time, uninstall it and see if startup speed improves.
9. Is Your PC Running on Virtual Memory
When your Windows PC runs out of memory, it uses your storage as virtual memory (to prevent crashing). However, Windows automatically adjusts this allocation, which can slow down startup. To avoid this, you can manually set the virtual memory size. Here’s how:
Note:For faster boot times, prioritize increasing RAM over relying heavily on virtual memory.
1.Typeperformancein theWindows Search Boxand click“Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows”.
2.Now switch to theAdvancedtab and hit theChangebutton (under virtual memory).
3.After that, uncheck“Automatically manage paging file size for all drives”.
4.Select thedrive, chooseCustom size, and set theinitialandmaximumsize.
5.Once done, clickSetandOKto confirm.
6.After a pop-up message, hit theOKbutton andrestartyour computer to see the effect
10. If Possible, Switch to SSD
We have seen how fast the computer boots up when switched from HDD to SSD and the difference is massive. So if you have an old computer or laptop that is running on a hard disk, try switching to SSD. You will see a noticeable difference in your boot times.
Pro Tip:Check for loose internal cable connection in your PC.
If none of the above methods work, the only option left is to either reset your Windows computer or do a fresh installation. We have already published an article onhow to reset Windows without losing files. verify to check it out.
Rahul is your go-to guide for fixing Windows, Steam, Android, Samsung TV, and Google Chrome. An engineering college dropout who followed his passion for tech, he brings 3 years of troubleshooting experience and 2+ years of running his own tech blog to the table. When he’s not solving your tech problems, you’ll find him unwinding with the latest anime or K-drama.
