If your computer has suddenly gotten sluggish, you don’t always need a full diagnostic process to fix it. Most slowdowns come down to a handful of common culprits — and most of them can be fixed in a few minutes. Here are 10 quick fixes to try first, roughly in order of how fast they work.
1. Just Restart It
Sounds obvious, but restarting clears temporary files from memory, closes stuck background processes, and resolves a surprising number of slowdowns instantly. If you haven’t restarted in days (or weeks), do this first before anything else.
2. Close Tabs and Programs You’re Not Using
Every open browser tab and running app eats RAM and CPU cycles. If you’re the type to keep 30 tabs open “just in case,” that’s very likely your problem. Close what you’re not actively using.
3. Check What’s Actually Using Your Resources
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc (Windows) or open Activity Monitor (Mac, in Applications > Utilities) to see which specific program is hogging CPU, memory, or disk. Often it’s one runaway process, not “everything at once.”
4. Disable Startup Programs
Programs that automatically launch at boot keep running in the background afterward, even if you never opened them.
- Windows: Task Manager > Startup Apps tab > disable anything non-essential
- Mac: System Settings > General > Login Items > remove what you don’t need
5. Clear Browser Extensions and Cache
Your browser is often the real bottleneck, not your operating system. Extensions in particular can quietly run in the background on every page you visit.
- Review and remove unused extensions
- Clear your cache and cookies
- If you’re on Chrome, press
Shift + Escto see its built-in task manager and spot the worst offenders
6. Free Up Disk Space
A hard drive over 85-90% full slows everything down, especially on older machines without an SSD. Run Disk Cleanup (Windows) or check About This Mac > Storage (Mac), then clear out large unused files, old downloads, and empty the recycle bin/trash.
7. Run a Quick Malware Scan
Malware and adware are notorious resource hogs that run silently. A full scan with Windows Defender (or your antivirus of choice) or a Mac-specific antivirus tool can rule this out fast.
8. Switch to “Best Performance” Power Mode
If your device is set to “Balanced” or “Power Saver,” it’s deliberately throttling itself.
- Windows: Settings > System > Power & Battery > Power Mode > Best Performance
- Mac: System Settings > Battery > disable aggressive power-saving while plugged in
9. Check for Overheating
If slowdowns happen specifically during heavy tasks (not while idle), your CPU may be thermally throttling itself. Make sure vents aren’t blocked and the machine isn’t sitting on a soft surface. If it’s an older laptop, dust buildup on internal fans is a very common — and fixable — cause.
10. Update Your OS and Drivers
Outdated software and drivers can genuinely slow a system down, not just create security gaps.
- Windows: Settings > Windows Update
- Mac: App Store > Updates
- On ASUS machines specifically, outdated drivers or BIOS are a common overlooked cause — see our ASUS drivers and BIOS update guide for how to do this safely
None of These Worked?
If you’ve tried all 10 and your computer is still crawling, the issue is likely hardware, not software — especially if you’re still running a traditional hard drive instead of an SSD, or have less than 8GB of RAM. For a deeper diagnosis-first walkthrough that digs into why your computer is slow before fixing it, see our complete guide to fixing a slow computer.
If you’re on an older ASUS laptop and these quick fixes plus a driver update still don’t help, our guide to resetting an ASUS laptop covers the full reset process as a last resort.
Still stuck? A technician-run hardware diagnostic can catch things like a failing drive or dying battery that no software fix will solve.
