1. Restart it properly
Laptops that are only ever closed can go weeks without a real restart. Use Start → Power → Restart (not Shut down, which on many PCs doesn't fully reset Windows).
2. Stop things launching at startup
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and go to Startup apps. Disable anything you don't need running the moment you log in — chat apps, game launchers, printer “helpers”. You can still open them when you want them.
3. Free up storage
Windows slows right down when the main drive is nearly full. Aim to keep at least 15–20% free.
- Settings → System → Storage shows what's using the space, and Storage Sense can clear temporary files automatically.
- Empty the Downloads folder and the Recycle Bin.
- Uninstall programs you don't recognise or no longer use.
4. Tidy your browser
For most people the browser is the computer. Remove extensions you didn't knowingly install, and close the 40 tabs you're keeping “for later” — each one uses memory.
5. Updates and a malware scan
Run Windows Update until it says you're up to date, then a full scan with the built-in Windows Security (Microsoft Defender) — you don't need to buy extra antivirus for a home PC.
If your computer still runs Windows 10, it no longer gets security updates for home users. That's a good reason to upgrade to Windows 11 if the hardware supports it, or to plan a replacement.
6. The upgrade that changes everything
If your computer still has a spinning hard drive, swapping it for an SSD is the single biggest speed-up you can buy — often making a five-year-old laptop feel new, for far less than a replacement. More memory (8 GB is the bare minimum today, 16 GB is comfortable) helps too, where the machine allows it.
