If your computer takes forever to start up, you are not alone. Many people sit waiting for minutes just to see their desktop. The good news is there are simple steps you can take to make your computer start much faster.
Why Does My Computer Start Slowly?
When you turn on your computer, it loads a long list of programs before you can do anything. Over time, more and more programs add themselves to that startup list without asking. Each one takes a little time, and together they can make startup feel painfully slow.
How to Stop Programs From Slowing Down Startup
This guide is written for Windows 11. Here is how to see and control what loads at startup. Names and places vary by version, so if a name looks different on your computer, look for something similar.
Windows 10 is past standard support, so the steps below may not match your screen. Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates for a limited time. Microsoft’s support pages list your current options.
- Right-click the taskbar (the bar at the bottom of your screen) and choose Task Manager. A separate Task Manager window should open.
- Click the Startup tab at the top.
- You will see a list of programs. Look at the column that says Startup impact.
- Right-click any program you do not need right away and choose Disable.
Do not worry — disabling a startup program does not delete it. It will still work whenever you open it yourself. It just will not load automatically every time you start your computer.
Which Programs Are Safe to Disable?
You can safely disable things like music apps, chat programs, and tools you only use occasionally. Be careful with programs related to your antivirus or your graphics card, as those are useful to keep running.
Other Things That Help
- Restart instead of sleep: Putting your computer to sleep every night means it never fully resets. Restarting once in a while gives it a clean start.
- Check for updates: An update waiting to be installed can slow down startup. Let updates finish and then restart.
- Free up disk space: If your hard drive is nearly full, your computer works harder. Before you delete anything, check that you have a copy somewhere else, such as in your cloud account or on an external drive. Then delete files you no longer need, or move them to an external drive. Once the files have been moved or deleted, you should see more free space on your computer’s own drive.
If Your Computer Is Getting Old
Sometimes the startup list is not the real problem. The hardware may be the cause. Before you change any part of your computer, back up your important files. Keep a copy in your cloud account or on an external drive.
Hard drive: Older computers often use a traditional spinning hard drive. These spin like a record player, and over time they can slow down. If your computer is more than five years old and still uses one, a solid-state drive (SSD) can make a noticeable difference. An SSD has no moving parts and loads your operating system faster. Replacing a drive may mean opening the computer, so switch it off and unplug it first. Check that everything has copied across before you stop using the old drive.
Memory (RAM): RAM is the memory your computer uses while it works. If your computer has only 4GB of RAM, it may struggle with a modern version of Windows. Startup programs use up memory quickly. Upgrading to 8GB is often affordable and can make a real difference. If you plan to open the computer to add memory, switch it off and unplug it first.
Background updates: Sometimes your computer is slow to start because it is quietly installing updates. You might see a message such as “Configuring Windows updates” or a spinning circle. This is normal and usually happens only now and then. Let it finish rather than forcing a shutdown.
If your computer still stalls after you have made these changes, stop and get a repair shop or the manufacturer to check the hardware.
When to Call for Help
If your computer takes more than five minutes to reach the desktop, or if it is less than two years old and still very slow, it may be worth having someone look at it. Sometimes old or failing hardware is the real cause, and no software fix will fully solve it.
Making these small changes will not turn an old machine into a new one, but for most people they make a noticeable difference on day one.
Last updated: October 9, 2026