5 Things to Do When Your Computer Is Running Slow

We’ve All Been There

You click something and… nothing happens. You click again. Still nothing. Then everything opens at once. Sound familiar?

A slow computer is one of the most common frustrations we hear about — and the good news is that you can usually fix it yourself with a few simple steps. No tech degree required.

1. Restart Your Computer (No, Really)

This one sounds too simple, but it works more often than you’d think. Restarting clears out temporary files and gives your computer a fresh start. If you haven’t restarted in a while, this alone can make a noticeable difference.

How to do it: Click the Start menu (Windows) or the Apple menu (Mac), then choose Restart — not just Sleep or Shut Down and reopen.

2. Close Programs You’re Not Using

Every open program uses a piece of your computer’s energy, even if you’re not actively looking at it. If you have 15 browser tabs open plus a few other apps, your computer is working overtime.

What to do: Look at your taskbar (Windows) or Dock (Mac). If you see programs open that you’re not using right now, close them. You can always reopen them later.

3. Check for Updates

Updates aren’t just about new features — they often include fixes that make your computer run better. If you’ve been clicking “Remind me later” for weeks, now’s a good time to let those updates install.

Where to look:

• Windows: Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update
• Mac: System Settings → General → Software Update

Let the updates install and restart when it asks you to.

4. Free Up Some Storage Space

When your hard drive gets too full, your computer slows down. Think of it like a closet — when it’s packed to the brim, it’s hard to find anything.

Easy ways to free up space:

• Empty your Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac)
• Delete old files or photos you no longer need
• Uninstall apps you haven’t used in months

If you’re not sure what’s taking up space, we can help you figure that out.

5. Scan for Malware

Sometimes a slow computer isn’t just a tired computer — it could be running unwanted software in the background. Running a quick scan with your antivirus program can catch problems you didn’t know were there.

Windows has built-in protection called Windows Security. Open it from the Start menu and run a quick scan. Mac users are less likely to encounter malware, but it’s still a good idea to stay cautious about what you download.

Still Slow?

If you’ve tried all five steps and your computer is still dragging, there might be something deeper going on — like aging hardware or a more stubborn software issue. That’s where we come in.

Get in touch and we’ll take a look. No judgment, no jargon — just help.