How to speed up an old laptop: free fixes and cheap upgrades

In short

Most slow laptops are not worn out. They are overloaded: too many programs starting at boot, a nearly full drive, missing updates, or an old spinning hard drive. Work through the free fixes below first, in order. If the laptop is still slow, a solid state drive (SSD) is the upgrade most likely to make it feel new, and extra memory (RAM) helps if you often run out.

The steps use Windows menus from Microsoft's own support pages. Mac notes are included where they differ.

Before you start: back up

Copy your documents and photos to an external drive or cloud storage before changing anything. It takes a few minutes and makes every step below risk free.

Step 1: Restart and update

A laptop that has been put to sleep for weeks builds up clutter in memory. Restart it properly: select Start, then Power, then Restart.

Then install updates, which often include performance and driver fixes as well as security patches:

Windows 11: Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Also look under Advanced options > Optional updates for driver updates.
Windows 10: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

If your laptop runs Windows 10, read our article on Windows 10 security updates before deciding how much time or money to put into it.

Step 2: Stop programs from starting with the laptop

Many programs add themselves to startup, so they load every time you switch on, even if you rarely use them. This is one of the most common causes of a slow start.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Select Startup apps from the menu on the left.
Look at the Startup impact column. Right click apps you do not need at startup, such as game launchers, music apps or chat tools, and select Disable.

Disabled apps still work when you open them yourself. Leave your antivirus and anything from your laptop maker, touchpad or audio driver enabled if you are not sure what it does.

On a Mac: choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General, then Login Items & Extensions. Select an item and click the remove button to stop it opening at login.

Step 3: Free up storage space

A nearly full drive slows everything down, because the system has no room for temporary files and updates.

Windows 11:

Select Start > Settings > System > Storage.
Open Cleanup recommendations and review temporary files, large or unused files, and apps you no longer use.
Back on the Storage page, select Storage Sense, then Run Storage Sense now. Turn Storage Sense on so it keeps cleaning automatically.

Windows 10: go to Start > Settings > System > Storage, turn on Storage Sense, then use Configure Storage Sense or run it now and select Clean now.

Also uninstall programs you no longer use, and move old videos and photos to an external drive or cloud storage. Aim to keep at least a tenth of the drive free.

Step 4: Check for malware

Malware can quietly use your processor and network in the background.

Windows 11: Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Quick scan.
Windows 10: Start > Settings > Update & security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Quick scan.

Run only one antivirus program at a time. Two real time scanners fight each other and slow the computer down.

If the scan finds something serious, change your important passwords from a different, trusted device, starting with your email. It is also a good moment to let a password manager remember your passwords so each account gets its own.

Step 5: Tame the browser

For many people, the browser is the heaviest program they run. Every open tab uses memory.

Close tabs you are not using, or use your browser's built in option to put inactive tabs to sleep.
Remove extensions you do not recognize or no longer use. Unknown extensions can also be a privacy risk.
Keep the browser updated. It updates separately from the operating system.

Step 6: Adjust power and visual settings

Power mode. On Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > System > Power & battery, and in Power mode choose Best performance when plugged in. On Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings and choose High performance if it is listed. This uses more battery, so switch back when unplugged.

Visual effects. Select Start, type Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, open it, and on the Visual Effects tab choose Adjust for best performance. Windows will look plainer but feel snappier on older hardware.

Step 7: Consider an SSD

If your laptop is more than about eight years old or was a budget model, it may still use a spinning hard disk drive (HDD). Hard drives have moving parts and are far slower than solid state drives for the small, scattered reads a computer does all day.

How to tell: check your laptop's specifications on the maker's website using the model number on the label underneath, or look at the Disk section of Task Manager's Performance tab.

What it involves: buying an SSD in the right size and connector type for your model, copying your system onto it with cloning software (or reinstalling Windows fresh), and swapping it in. On many laptops this means removing a few screws on the bottom panel. If you are not comfortable opening the case, a local repair shop can do it for a modest fee.

What to expect: startup, opening programs and searching files typically become dramatically faster. It is usually the best value upgrade for an old laptop with a hard drive.

Step 8: Consider more memory (RAM)

RAM is the laptop's short term workspace. When it runs out, the system shuffles data to the drive, which is slow, especially on a hard drive.

How to tell if you need more: open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select Performance, then Memory. If memory use sits near the top while you work normally, more RAM will help. The same screen shows Slots used, which tells you whether there is a free slot.

Check before you buy: many thin laptops have memory soldered to the board, which cannot be upgraded. Look up your exact model before ordering. The maker's website or a memory vendor's compatibility tool will list the right type and maximum amount.

As a rule of thumb, 8 GB is a comfortable minimum for everyday use today, and 16 GB gives room for many browser tabs and video calls. Windows 11 itself requires at least 4 GB.

Find the real bottleneck first

Before spending money, spend two minutes finding out what is actually holding the laptop back. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select Performance, and use the laptop normally for a while. Whichever item keeps hitting or staying near 100 percent is your bottleneck.

What you notice	Likely cause	First thing to try
Very slow to start, then fine	Too many startup apps	Step 2
Disk near 100 percent for long periods	Old hard drive or a nearly full drive	Steps 3 and 7
Memory near the top with a few tabs open	Not enough RAM	Steps 5 and 8
Processor busy when you are doing nothing	Background programs or malware	Steps 2 and 4
Only websites and streaming are slow	Wi-Fi or internet connection	See the Wi-Fi note below

A simple way to measure progress is to time how long the laptop takes from pressing the power button to a usable desktop, before and after your changes. If the number drops a lot after the free steps, you may not need any upgrade at all.

When an old laptop is not worth saving

Upgrades make sense when the laptop is otherwise sound. Think twice if:

It can no longer get security updates. A fast but unpatched laptop is not safe for banking or email.
The battery is swollen or the hinge is broken. A swollen battery is a safety risk, so stop using the laptop and get it checked. Repairs can cost more than the upgrade.
It is slow even after an SSD, more memory and a clean startup. The processor may simply be too old for modern websites and apps.

If your Wi-Fi is the slow part rather than the laptop, test it right next to the router. Our guide on how Wi-Fi works explains how to fix dead spots.

Common mistakes

Installing "PC cleaner" or "speed booster" apps. Many add more background clutter than they remove, and some are scams. Windows already includes the tools you need.
Running two antivirus programs. They slow each other down.
Buying RAM for a laptop with soldered memory. Check your model first.
Skipping the backup before a drive swap. Always copy your files first.

The short version

Back up, restart and install updates.
Disable unneeded startup apps in Task Manager.
Free storage with Cleanup recommendations and Storage Sense.
Run a malware scan and trim browser tabs and extensions.
Use Best performance mode when plugged in.
Still slow? Replace a hard drive with an SSD, then add RAM if you run out of memory.

Frequently asked questions

What is the single biggest upgrade for an old laptop?

If it still has a traditional spinning hard drive, replacing it with a solid state drive (SSD) usually makes the biggest difference. Startup, opening apps and searching for files all become much faster.

Will more RAM make my laptop faster?

Only if you regularly run out of memory, for example with many browser tabs open. Task Manager shows how much memory is in use. Check first that your laptop's memory is not soldered to the board, because then it cannot be upgraded.

Does disabling startup apps break anything?

Usually not. Disabled apps still work when you open them yourself. Leave your security software and anything from your laptop or audio driver maker enabled if you are unsure what it does.

Is it worth upgrading a laptop that runs Windows 10?

Only if it can run Windows 11 or you enroll it in Microsoft's Extended Security Updates, which run until October 12, 2027. Otherwise, consider a new device or a different operating system before spending on upgrades.

Should I set my laptop to Best performance mode?

It can help when plugged in, but it uses more battery and can make the laptop warmer. Switch back to a balanced mode when you are on battery.

How to speed up an old laptop without buying a new one