Help Guides
Why is my laptop running so slow?
A slow laptop is one of the most common things we help with. There is almost always a clear reason and it is usually fixable without replacing anything.
Laptops slow down for a handful of common reasons: too many programs running in the background, a nearly full hard drive, or software that has not been updated in a while. Most of these are easy to fix without buying anything new.
If you would rather not work through any of this yourself, that is completely fine. This is exactly the kind of problem we sort out during a visit. Give us a call and we can take care of it for you.
What might be causing it
Too many programs running in the background
Every time you install a program, it often sets itself up to run automatically in the background, even when you are not using it. Over time, dozens of these can stack up and quietly use memory and processing power, leaving very little for the things you actually want to do.
The hard drive is nearly full
When a laptop's storage is running low, it slows down noticeably. Windows and macOS both need free space to work properly. If your hard drive is more than about 80 percent full, that alone can cause significant slowdowns.
The laptop has not been restarted in a long time
Many people leave their laptop in sleep mode rather than shutting it down fully. Over days or weeks, this causes memory to fill up and small software issues to accumulate. A full restart clears all of that out and often makes an immediate difference.
Would you rather we handle this?
We can come to your home in Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, or Oshawa and sort this out for you. One visit, one flat fee.
Book a VisitWindows or macOS is out of date
Operating system updates include performance improvements and bug fixes. If your laptop has been putting off updates for months, it may be running older, less efficient code that causes slowdowns and occasional freezes.
Too many programs launch when you start up
Similar to background programs, startup programs are ones that open automatically the moment you turn on your laptop. If you have a long list of these, your laptop can take several minutes to become usable after switching on, and feel sluggish for a while after that.
There is malware or a virus on the laptop
Malicious software often runs silently in the background, using your laptop's resources for its own purposes. If your laptop has slowed down suddenly and unexpectedly, this is worth checking. We scan for and remove malware as part of every cleanup visit.
We can take care of this for you
You do not have to work through any of this yourself. If your device is not running the way it should and you would rather have someone sort it out for you, that is exactly what we are here for. We visit homes across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Oshawa and handle these problems every day.
Get help today
We do laptop cleanups across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Oshawa. Most laptops feel noticeably faster after a cleanup visit. One flat fee, no surprises.
Get Help TodayFAQ
Common questions about slow laptops
- Will speeding up my laptop cost a lot?
No. A laptop cleanup visit is covered by our standard flat fee. Most people find their laptop feels noticeably faster after a single visit.
- My laptop is several years old. Is it worth fixing?
Often yes. Age alone does not mean a laptop is beyond help. If the hardware is in reasonable shape, a cleanup and software tune-up can give it several more years of useful life. We will give you an honest assessment when we visit.
- Could my laptop have a virus?
It is possible. Malware and viruses can slow a laptop down significantly. We check for this during every cleanup visit and remove anything we find.