Even though Windows is much faster than its earlier versions, sometimes, Windows starts up slowly when the PC is turned on, which has been a problem for many users. Most of us expect our devices to be readily accessible whenever we need them, which might upset many users. In this post, we will share suggestions to fix slow startup on Windows. It applies to all versions of Windows.
How to Fix Slow Startup on Windows
Here is a list of suggestions you can follow to improve the performance of your Windows PC, especially the login experience.
- Disable and Re-Enable Fast Startup
- Disable Startup Programs
- Clean up Storage Space
- Improve Storage Performance
- Remove Unnecessary Programs from your PC
- Upgrade Hardware
Some of these may need an administrator account.
1] Disable and Re-Enable Fast Startup
Windows comes with the Fast Startup functionality enabled by default. Preloading some boot information before your PC turns off should shorten starting time. It functions like hibernation.
Fast Startup was implemented to improve boot times, although some users claim it makes the start process slower. Therefore, you can start by disabling Fast Startup and then re-enabling it. Check out this link on how to Disable and Re-Enable Fast Startup.
2] Disable Startup Programs
A startup program is a software or app that launches automatically after the PC starts. Many don’t realize this, but most programs have pre-selected options allowing them to be part of the startup. Since most of us do not bother much, the list keeps increasing.
Thus, you can understand that the more startup programs you have on your PC, the time it takes for your PC to boot will take longer than expected. Therefore, you can eliminate unwanted startup programs to speed up your Windows PC startup.
Here is how to disable programs from Startup
- Use Ctrl + Shift + Escape to launch Task Manager
- Switch to the Startup tab.
- To remove apps from the startup programs list that you only occasionally use or do not usually need, right-click on each program, then click Disable.
3] Clean up Storage Space
If the unused space on your primary drive is low, it will impact the performance of Windows. It’s a good habit to remove whatever is not required occasionally. Check out how to find the largest file using Storage Sense.
- Go to Settings (Win + I) > Storage
- Click on Cleanup Recommendations
- It will show you sections to find and clear the following
- Temporary Files
- Large or unused files
- Files synced to the cloud
- Unused apps
Similar to Storage sense, there is another classic tool in Windows—Disc Cleanup.
It will eliminate files and other objects no longer required, delete temporary files, and empty the Recycle Bin. Your PC will operate faster with fewer unused and temporary files on your hard drive. When looking for files, you will notice a difference. How to perform a disk cleanup?
How to perform a disk cleanup?
- Open File Explorer, right-click on Local Disk (C:) drive, and click on Properties from the context menu.
- In the Properties windows, click on the Disk Cleanup button.
- In the next window, under Files to delete, click on the check box next to all the files to select them and click OK. Click on the Delete files button to permanently delete all the selected files.
- Click OK to close the window.
- Open the Properties windows of your Local Disk (C:) drive again, and click the Disk Cleanup button.
- In the next window, click on the Clean up file systems button.
- Select all the files under Files to delete and press OK.
- Click the Delete files button and OK to finish your hard disk cleanup.
This tool and Storage Sense can be used to clean up files post-Windows Upgrade.
4] Improve Storage Performance
Most modern PCs use SSDs, which can be managed using the OEM tool or TRIM feature. But if you use HDD, you can also use the classic method to improve its performance.
OEM Software for SSD (TRIM & Over-Provisioning)
Most OEMs offer software to manage SSDs. Not only can this software manage partitions, but it can also enable TRIM or Active Garbage Collection. The OS sends this command to SSD to inform the drive which data blocks are no longer in use and can be erased. It ensures speed up write operation as the SSD controller knows where to write and also increases the lifespan of the SSD.
Along with this, most OEM software enables Over-Provisioning. Once enabled, the controller has additional space to perform wear-leveling, garbage collection, and bad block management tasks. This ensures to increase drive’s lifespan and maintains its performance over time.
Defragment Hard Disk Drives
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue box, type dfrgui into the text box, and press OK.
- In the Optimize Drivers window, choose the hard disk you want to defragment and press the Optimize button. If you have installed it on the HDD, it is advised to start the defragmentation process with the C: drive. (Restart required)
- Wait until the defragmentation operation is complete. After that, you can optimize other drives to speed up the overall experience.
5] Remove Unnecessary Programs from your PC
The PC will become slow if you install too many programs on your PC, and most of them add themselves as part of the Startup. As soon as you log in, you cannot use your PC immediately as some apps show themselves up, interrupting the screen. So, you can either disable or uninstall the programs that show up on startup if they are not necessary.
Steps to Uninstall a Program from Windows
- Press the Windows key + I to open Settings and press on the Apps option on the left pane.
- Choose Apps & features on the right. Under the Apps list, click on the three dots next to each app and click on the Uninstall option from the context menu to remove the app permanently from your Windows PC.
Next time upon startup, these apps will not appear, making the startup smoother.
6] Upgrade Hardware
An outdated system is hardware or software that has not been updated. Systems that are not updated frequently become liabilities rather than assets since they cannot catch up to complete the task. If you don’t update, upgrade, or replace outdated hardware, you may face many problems with your PC, including a slow startup which may hinder smooth workflow.
Most PCs can be upgraded and repaired, at least in parts. Your PC’s hardware can be revitalized and given several more years of life by upgrading its memory, storage drive, and battery. More importantly, upgrading your PC’s hardware can increase the speed and performance of the startup.
Conclusion
There are multiple ways to fix the Slow Startup on Windows. The primary culprit is the list of programs that start as soon you login into Windows, but there are other factors such as storage space, SSD performance, and improving hardware to speed up. I hope the post was easy to follow and you were able to improve the Windows performance.
