You can feel it when a laptop starts slowing down: apps take longer to open, the fan runs louder, and even simple browsing lags. The good news is you don’t need a new machine—or a weekend project—to fix it. In about 15 minutes, you can unlock hidden settings and quick optimizations that noticeably improve Laptop speed on Windows or macOS. These tweaks focus on the biggest performance drains: too many startup items, background processes, bloated storage, and power settings that quietly throttle performance. Follow the steps below in order, and you’ll get a faster boot, snappier apps, and smoother multitasking—without installing sketchy “optimizer” software or risking your files.
Do a 2-minute performance check (so you fix the right thing)
Before changing settings, confirm what’s actually slowing you down. This prevents guessing and helps you prioritize the biggest wins.
Windows: Task Manager and Resource Monitor
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), then check:
– CPU: If it’s pinned near 80–100% while you’re doing very little, a background process is likely hogging resources.
– Memory: If you’re consistently above 80%, too many apps or browser tabs are pushing your RAM.
– Disk: If Disk stays at 90–100% on an older HDD, storage performance is your bottleneck.
Tip: Click “Processes” and sort by CPU or Memory to spot the culprits quickly.
macOS: Activity Monitor and Storage
Open Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities). Look at:
– CPU tab: Sort by “% CPU” to find runaway apps.
– Memory tab: If “Memory Pressure” is yellow/red, you’re constrained by RAM.
– Disk tab: Heavy read/write activity can indicate syncing, indexing, or an app misbehaving.
For storage, go to System Settings > General > Storage to see what’s consuming space and whether you’re close to full.
Unlock hidden startup controls for faster boot and smoother Laptop speed
Startup apps are one of the biggest reasons laptops feel slow—especially after months of installing tools you no longer use.
Windows: Disable startup apps you don’t need
1. Open Task Manager.
2. Go to “Startup apps” (or “Startup” depending on version).
3. Disable anything non-essential.
A practical rule:
– Keep enabled: Security tools, touchpad/keyboard utilities, audio drivers, and cloud storage you actively use.
– Disable: Game launchers, chat apps you don’t need immediately, “update helper” tools, and manufacturer promo utilities.
If you’re unsure, search the app name and confirm it’s safe to disable (disabling doesn’t uninstall; it only stops auto-launch).
macOS: Login items and background items
1. Go to System Settings > General > Login Items.
2. Remove items you don’t need at startup.
3. Review “Allow in the Background” and toggle off apps you rarely use.
This single change often delivers an immediate Laptop speed improvement because fewer apps compete for resources right after boot.
Use power and performance settings that quietly boost Laptop speed
Many laptops ship with power plans designed to maximize battery, not performance. A few tweaks can prevent unnecessary throttling.
Windows: Pick the right power mode (and a hidden plan)
1. Go to Settings > System > Power & battery.
2. Set Power mode to:
– Best performance (when plugged in)
– Balanced (when on battery)
Optional advanced step (often overlooked): enable a high-performance plan.
– Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options
– Select “High performance” or “Ultimate Performance” (if available)
If “Ultimate Performance” isn’t visible on your system, don’t worry—Best performance in Settings usually gets you most of the benefit.
macOS: Battery settings that reduce slowdowns
Go to System Settings > Battery and review:
– Low Power Mode: Turn it off when you want maximum performance (especially when plugged in).
– Battery health/optimized charging: Keep enabled for long-term battery care, but know that Low Power Mode is the bigger performance limiter.
If your MacBook is warm and sluggish, give it airflow and close heavy apps. Thermal throttling is real, and it directly impacts Laptop speed.
Stop background drains you didn’t agree to
Some features are useful but can quietly consume CPU, disk, and network in the background.
Windows: Tame background apps, syncing, and indexing
Quick wins:
– Pause cloud syncing temporarily during heavy work (OneDrive/Dropbox/Google Drive), especially if Disk usage is high.
– Reduce search indexing load if it’s causing spikes:
– Open Windows Search settings and exclude large folders you don’t need indexed (like huge archives or VM folders).
Also check for updates stuck in a loop:
– Settings > Windows Update: If updates are pending, let them finish. A half-installed update can bog down performance.
macOS: Spotlight indexing and iCloud sync
If your Mac is indexing (common after updates or large file moves), performance may dip temporarily.
– Keep it plugged in and let indexing finish.
– If iCloud Drive is syncing massive folders, pause or limit syncing until your critical work is done.
A useful rule of thumb: if the fan spins up while you’re “doing nothing,” background work is the likely cause.
Clean storage the smart way (without “cleaner” apps)
Low free space hurts performance—especially on systems that rely on fast swap space. Keeping healthy free space is a reliable way to improve Laptop speed.
Windows: Storage Sense and uninstalling bloat
1. Go to Settings > System > Storage.
2. Turn on Storage Sense.
3. Run cleanup for:
– Temporary files
– Recycle Bin
– Delivery Optimization files (safe to clear)
Then uninstall unused apps:
– Settings > Apps > Installed apps
– Sort by size and remove what you no longer use
Target to aim for:
– Keep at least 15–20% of your drive free for best day-to-day responsiveness.
macOS: Optimize Storage and remove heavy clutter
1. System Settings > General > Storage
2. Review recommendations like:
– Store in iCloud (if you use it)
– Optimize Storage
– Empty Trash automatically
Also check for large files:
– Old installers (DMG files)
– Duplicate downloads
– Unused media libraries
For more general performance guidance, Apple’s official recommendations on freeing space and managing storage can be helpful: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206996
Update what matters and run one safe maintenance step
Updates can improve performance, fix bugs, and reduce resource usage—but you only need a couple of targeted actions.
Update drivers/OS (without turning it into a project)
Windows:
– Run Windows Update.
– For graphics performance issues, update GPU drivers (Intel/NVIDIA/AMD) from the manufacturer if you know your model.
macOS:
– System Settings > General > Software Update.
Avoid downloading random “driver updater” tools. Stick to official sources or built-in update mechanisms.
One maintenance action that often helps: restart + malware scan
If you haven’t restarted in days, do it. It clears memory leaks and stuck background tasks.
Then scan safely:
– Windows: Use Microsoft Defender (built-in) and run a Full scan.
– macOS: Malware is less common, but adware and shady browser extensions can still slow things down. Remove unknown extensions and uninstall apps you don’t recognize.
Signs you should scan:
– Browser redirects
– Constant pop-ups
– CPU spikes tied to a browser process
– Fans running hard during idle
The fastest 15-minute plan: do these steps in order
If you want the quickest path to better Laptop speed, follow this sequence:
1. Check Task Manager/Activity Monitor for the top resource hog.
2. Disable unnecessary startup/login items.
3. Switch to a performance-friendly power mode (especially when plugged in).
4. Pause heavy syncing and reduce background drains.
5. Free up storage with built-in tools (no third-party cleaners).
6. Restart and run one reputable security scan.
You don’t need to do everything perfectly—just doing steps 2, 3, and 5 is often enough to make your laptop feel noticeably faster.
If you want a personalized checklist (based on your exact laptop model, storage type, and what you use it for), reach out at khmuhtadin.com and share your OS version plus what feels slow (boot time, browsing, gaming, or multitasking).
Leave a Reply