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Slow or frozen computer? Fixes that actually help

Last reviewed: October 2026, against Microsoft and Apple support pages · For Windows 11, Windows 10 and Mac.

Your computer takes forever to start, programs hang, or the whole screen freezes. Most of the time the cause is simple: it needs a restart, too many programs start up with it, it's low on storage, or updates are waiting. Work through these steps in order. They're free, and none of them delete your files.

⚡ The short version

  1. Restart the computer (a real restart, not just closing the lid).
  2. Install waiting updates for the system and your apps.
  3. Stop extra programs from starting when the computer turns on.
  4. Free up storage if the drive is nearly full.
  5. Close browser tabs and remove browser extensions you don't use.

Frozen right now? Start with If it's frozen right now.

If it's frozen right now

  1. Wait a minute or two. Sometimes the computer is just busy and catches up.
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. If you only see a small window, select More details.
  3. On the Processes tab, select the program that's stuck (it may say Not responding) and select End task. Any unsaved work in that program may be lost.
  4. If nothing responds at all, press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds until it turns off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. Use this only as a last resort.
  1. Wait a minute or two. If you see the spinning wheel, the Mac may just be busy.
  2. Press Option + Command + Esc (or choose Apple menu → Force Quit). Select the stuck app and click Force Quit. Unsaved work in that app may be lost.
  3. If the whole Mac is stuck, press and hold the power button (or Touch ID button) until it turns off, then turn it back on. Use this only as a last resort.

Step-by-step: speed it up

  1. Restart it properly

    Many people never fully restart; they just close the lid or let the screen sleep. A restart clears out programs stuck in the background and finishes installing updates.

    • Windows: Start → Power → Restart.
    • Mac: Apple menu → Restart.

  2. Install updates

    Updates fix bugs that can slow things down. Save your work first; the computer may restart.

    • Windows 11: Start → Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.
    • Windows 10: Start → Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → Check for updates.
    • Mac: Apple menu → System Settings → General → Software Update. On older Macs, look for Software Update in System Preferences.

    Right after a big update, a computer can feel slow for a while as it finishes background work. Give it some time and a restart before judging.

  3. Stop extra programs from starting automatically

    Many apps set themselves to open every time the computer starts, which slows startup and uses memory all day. Turning one off here doesn't uninstall it; you can still open it whenever you want.

    • Windows 11: Start → Settings → Apps → Startup, then turn off apps you don't need right away. You can also use the Startup apps page in Task Manager.
    • Windows 10: open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), select the Startup tab, select an app and choose Disable.
    • Mac: Apple menu → System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions (on some earlier versions it's called Login Items). Under Open at Login, select the app and click the minus (−) button.
    Not sure what something is? Leave anything from your antivirus, your computer's maker (for example audio, touchpad or graphics tools) or Microsoft/Apple alone. Turn off things you recognize and don't need at startup, like chat, music or game launchers.

  4. Free up storage space

    When the main drive is nearly full, the computer has less room to work and can slow down. Check how much space is left:

    • Windows 11: Start → Settings → System → Storage. Look at Temporary files and Cleanup recommendations, and consider turning on Storage Sense to clean up automatically.
    • Windows 10: Start → Settings → System → Storage, then review Temporary files and turn on Storage Sense.
    • Mac: Apple menu → System Settings → General → Storage, then review the recommendations. On older versions of macOS, it's under Apple menu → About This Mac, in the Storage tab.

    Easy wins: empty the Recycle Bin or Trash, clear out the Downloads folder, and uninstall programs you no longer use.

    Before you delete: read what each item is. Don't delete files from folders you don't recognize, and move important photos and documents to an external drive or cloud storage first. Also skip “PC cleaner” or “registry cleaner” programs; Windows and macOS already include the cleanup tools you need.

  5. Tame the web browser

    Often the “slow computer” is really a slow browser. Each open tab uses memory, and some extensions run all the time.

    • Close tabs you aren't using, then close and reopen the browser.
    • Remove extensions you didn't install or don't use: in Edge, Extensions → Manage extensions; in Chrome, More (⋮) → Extensions → Manage Extensions; in Safari, Safari menu → Settings → Extensions.

  6. See what's using it up

    If it's still slow, find out which program is working hardest.

    • Windows: open Task Manager, and on the Processes tab select the CPU or Memory column heading to sort by it. A program near the top all the time is a likely cause. Close it, update it, or uninstall it if you don't need it.
    • Mac: open Activity Monitor (in Applications → Utilities, or search for it with Command + Space). Click CPU or Memory and sort by the % CPU or Memory column.

    Don't end processes you don't recognize; many are part of Windows or macOS. Stick to apps you know.

  7. Check for malware (Windows)

    Unwanted software can slow a computer down. Search the Start menu for Windows Security, then select Virus & threat protection → Quick scan. On a Mac, keeping macOS up to date (step 2) is the main protection.

    Seeing scary pop-ups telling you to call a number? See Scary pop-up says your computer is infected?

  8. Laptops: check power settings

    On battery, laptops may slow themselves down to save power. Plug in the charger and see if it speeds up. On Windows 11, look at Start → Settings → System → Power & battery → Power mode (the exact options depend on your laptop). On a Mac, check System Settings → Battery for Low Power Mode.

Still slow?

If you've tried everything above, the computer may simply be older than the software it's running, or it may have a hardware problem such as a failing drive or too little memory. Signs of a hardware problem include clicking noises, frequent freezes even right after a restart, or error messages about the disk. At that point, back up your files first, then ask someone you trust or the computer's maker for help. Microsoft and Apple also describe a full reset or reinstall as a last resort, but back up everything before considering it.

Good to know: you don't need to buy a “speed-up” program. Be wary of ads, pop-ups or callers offering to make your computer faster for a fee.

Sources

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