Windows 10 can become slow when background processes consume too much CPU, memory, or disk activity, the system drive is running low on space, too many programs launch at startup, or the PC's hardware can no longer keep up with your workload. Malware, outdated drivers, and cloud syncing can also affect performance.
Before changing Windows settings, open Task Manager and check which resource—CPU, memory, or disk—is under heavy load. Identifying the bottleneck first will help you choose the right fix instead of trying every optimization below.
Check the diagnostic table to determine which fix you actually need:
| What you see | Likely problem | What to try first |
| C: drive almost full | insufficient free space | Storage Sense Disk Cleanup iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows |
| CPU constantly very high | CPU-heavy/background process | Sort Task Manager by CPU |
| Memory nearly full | Insufficient RAM | Close apps to release RAM |
| Slow only after startup | Too many startup apps | Disable high-impact startup apps |
| Disk frequently at 100% | Storage bottleneck/background disk activity | Identify disk-heavy process; check drive health |
| Slow while OneDrive syncs | Background synchronization | Pause syncing and compare |
| Slow despite low resource usage | Hardware, driver, thermal, or system issue | Drivers, malware, hardware checks |
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Based on the possible causes listed above, here are some proven methods to fix Windows 10 running slow on laptop or desktop computer. As a side note, those solutions are applicable to Windows 11 or other Windows editions.
Free Up Space on the Windows 10 System Drive via 3 Methods
A nearly full C: drive can contribute to poor Windows 10 performance and can also leave Windows without enough space for temporary files and updates. Before deleting anything, open File Explorer > This PC and check how much free space remains on the system drive.
Windows includes two useful tools for reclaiming space: Storage Sense and Disk Cleanup. However, these tools may not answer a more important question: What is actually taking up most of the space on your C: drive? That's where iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows comes in, combining disk space analysis and cleanup in one convenient tool.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Best for | Main Advantage(s) |
| Storage Sense | Routine automatic cleanup | Windows can periodically remove unnecessary temporary files |
| Disk Cleanup | Manual system-file cleanup | Lets you select categories of temporary and system files to remove |
| iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows | Visually analyzing disk usage and clearing unnecessary files |
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1. Storage Sense
Storage Sense is best for routine maintenance because it can automatically remove temporary files and manage items such as Recycle Bin contents. Here's how:
- Press the "Windows+i" keys to open Settings.
- Go to System > Storage
- Switch on the “Storage Sense” feature and click the option "Configure Storage Sense or run it now."
- Decide how you want the temporary files to be deleted.
- You can scroll down and click “Clean now” to free up disk space in Windows 10.
2. Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup provides a more traditional way to remove temporary and system files manually. Here's how:
- Open File Explorer and right-click on the system drive (usually C drive) to choose Properties.
- Click “Disk Cleanup.”
- Select the Thumbnail cache, temporary files, or others you want to delete.
- Click "OK" to start cleaning.
- You can choose "Clean up system files" for a deeper cleanup.
3. iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows
If Windows cleanup removes only a small amount of data but the C: drive is still nearly full, a disk space analyzer iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows can provide a clearer picture. It can scan the system drive and show which are taking up substantial storage space. This is useful for finding large personal files, old downloads, app cache, and other items that may not show up in Windows' built-in tools.
In addition, you can remove junk files with a convenient one-click cleanup. A wide range of unnecessary data can be cleared, including system cache, system components, logs and dumps, temporary files, large files, personal files, app cache, thumbnail cache, app leftovers, etc. You can also uninstall unwanted apps and remove their associated files.
Not sure whether a file or folder can be safely deleted? AI-powered recommendations can help. It analyzes cleanup items and provides intelligent recommendations, making it easier to decide what you can remove and what you should keep.
Here's how to carry out a system cleanup via iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows:
- Download, install, and launch iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows version 2.0 (the latest version).
- Click the “Clean” blue button next to Lock Disk (C:) in the AI disk space optimization section.
- This feature-rish disk manager will instantly scan your system drive C: and then list out the results in 3 major categories: system cleanup, application optimization, and chat tools. You can click and open the specific folder to see the detailed items. The auto-selected items are safe to clear, no negative effects to your system. As for personal files and sensative data, it leaves the selection right to you.
- Click the “Cleanup” button in the top menu or the “Clean selected” button in the lower right corner of the screen to clear unnecessary files.
Tips: On top of system drive analysis and cleanup, iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows can also help you analysis other user folders/partition and give you AI recommendations on cleanup, aiming to free up disk space and tackle Windows 10 running slow issue.
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Offload CPU Burden in Windows 10 via Task Manager
When your Windows 10 CPU is heavy, Task Manager is the primary option to offload your CPU burden. Here's howto:
Step 1. Go to the search bar and type “Task Manager” > click Open or Run as administrator.
Step 2. Check CPU usage. SpaceSniffer is using the most CPU resources on my Windows 10 PC, peaking at 68.5%, while the other processes remain within a reasonable range. I choose to exit SpaceSniffer to reduce the CPU load.
Step 3. Locate to SpaceSniffer > right-click to enable the menu > choose “End task”. After that, my Windows 10 CPU usage keeps around 15%. It goes much smoother than before.
End Unnecessary Apps to Release RAM with Task Manager
Excessive apps and services running in the background may be to blame for the Windows 10 running slow problem. Here's how to close them in Task Manager:
- Right-click on the Start menu or taskbar at the bottom and select Task Manager.
- Look for the unnecessary apps and services that take up a lot of CPU or memory usage.
- Right-click on the app or service and tap on "End task."
Disable High-impact Startup Apps on Windows 10
Some programs and apps are configured to launch automatically when you sign in to Windows. These startup apps can consume system resources and contribute to slow Windows 10 performance. Therefore, one of the simplest ways to improve performance is to disable unnecessary, high-impact startup apps.
- Right-click on the Start menu or taskbar at the bottom and select Task Manager.
- Tap on the "Startup" tab.
- Right-click on the target program or app and choose "Disable."
Check Drive Health
To check Windows 10 drive health, the quick workaround is using PowerShell. Here's howto:
Step 1. Go to “Start” > type “PowerShell” > click “Run as administrator”.
Step 2. Run the following command:
Get-PhysicalDisk
Look at the HealthStatus column:
- Healthy — Windows isn't detecting a problem.
- Warning — the drive may be developing issues.
- Unhealthy — back up important data immediately.
My status is Healthy. There is no obvious problem in my drive.
Step 3. Run another command if you want to know additional reliability info:
Get-PhysicalDisk | Get-StorageReliabilityCounter
Depending on the drive and controller, it may provide information such as temperature, wear level, read/write errors, and power-on hours.
Pause OneDrive Syncing on Windows 10
OneDrive syncing function may retard the Windows 10 OS and result in the Windows 10 running slow issue.
- Tap on the OneDrive icon on the taskbar and click settings.
- Choose "Pause syncing" and select the time.
- Restart your Windows 10 PC.
Check Drivers, Malware on Windows 10
When your resource usage is low but Windows 10 is still running slow, it's time to check the drivers, malware and more hardware on Windows 10.
1. Check Drivers in PowerShell
Step 1. Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:
Get-PnpDevice | Where-Object Status -ne "OK"
Step 2. It shows any devices with an Unknown status. Investigate those devices first.
Step 3. For drivers, avoid generic “driver updater” utilities. Instead, obtain chipset, storage/NVMe/SATA, graphics, and network drivers through Windows Update or directly from Windows 10 PC, motherboard, or device manufacturer.
Step 4. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history and review recent driver updates. If the slowdown started immediately after a driver update, that timing is an important clue.
2. Check for Malware
Step 1. Go to Start > find and open Windows Security.
Step 2. Select Virus & threat protection, then choose Quick scan or Full scan under Scan options. Here, I select Quick scan for a faster check. If you have enough time, however, Full scan is recommended for a more thorough check.
Step 3. Wait for the scanning.
Step 4. Check the scan results. In my case, Windows 10 detected one threat. After reviewing the details, I determined that it posed no significant risk to my system or performance, so I chose to ignore it.
If Windows detects a large number of threats or you suspect a serious infection, consider using reputable professional antivirus or malware-removal software for a more thorough cleanup.
In addition to the solutions mentioned above, there are several other ways to improve Windows 10 performance, such as adjusting visual effects, disabling transparency effects, and installing the latest Windows updates. If you have some extra time, these methods are also worth trying.
Adjust for Best Performance on Windows 10
Properly adjusting some Windows performance settings can help optimize the system performance and fix Windows 10 running slow on laptop and desktop computers.
- Press the Windows+S keys to open the Windows search bar.
- Type "performance" in the search bar and tap on "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows."
- Under the "Visual Effects" tab, tap on "Adjust for best performance."
- Click "Apply" and "OK."
Disable Transparency Effects on Windows 10
Disabling transparency effects can contribute to alleviating the Windows 10 running slow issue, and here's how:
- Press the "Windows+i" keys to open Settings.
- Go to Personalization > Colors
- Scroll down and look for "Transparency effects."
- Switch it off.
Update Windows via Settings on Windows 10
The outdated Windows 10 version could be the culprit for Windows 10 running slow on laptop or desktop computer. Here's how to update Windows:
- Press the "Windows+i" keys to open Settings.
- Tap on "Update & Security."
- Click "Check for updates" or "Download and install" if available.
Note: Microsoft ended standard support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Although your PC will continue to work, Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows 11 if your hardware is compatible. If your PC is too old to support Windows 11 and its performance remains poor after troubleshooting, upgrading the hardware or replacing the PC may be a more practical solution than continuing to optimize the software.
Conclusion
Restarting your PC, updating outdated drivers, and upgrading your hardware can also help fix Windows 10 running slow issues. iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows can further help by cleaning up the system and identifying large files or space-consuming partitions.
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FAQs
- Q1. Why is Windows 10 running slow even when CPU and memory usage are low?
-
A
Low CPU and RAM usage doesn't always mean your PC is running normally. Slow storage, driver issues, thermal throttling, background services, hardware errors, or corrupted system files can still cause poor performance. Check disk health, Device Manager, Event Viewer, CPU clock speed, and Windows system files.
- Q2. My Windows 10 is running slow after an update, why?
-
A
Windows 10 may temporarily slow down after an update because it is completing installation tasks, rebuilding indexes, updating drivers, or performing background maintenance. If the problem continues, check Windows Update history and Device Manager for driver changes or errors. Some reported cases of slow startup after updates have also been linked to incompatible or replaced device drivers.
- Q3. Can low disk space make Windows 10 slow?
-
A
Yes. Windows needs free storage for temporary files, updates, application caches, and the paging file. When the system drive is nearly full, Windows and applications may become noticeably slower. Remove unnecessary files and applications and keep a reasonable amount of free space on the Windows drive.
- Q4. Will replacing an HDD with an SSD make Windows 10 faster?
-
A
Usually, yes. Replacing an HDD with an SSD can significantly improve Windows startup, app loading, file access, and overall responsiveness. For older PCs, an SSD upgrade is often one of the most noticeable performance improvements.