How to Speed Up an Old Laptop or PC Without Spending a Dime

Sunday, 31 August 2025 at 05:43

We’ve all been there. You sit down to get some work done, hit the power button, and then wait... and wait. Your laptop PC takes forever to start, apps crawl, and even opening a browser feels like a chore.

Buying a new laptop PC is tempting, but it’s not always in the budget. The good news is you don’t have to. There are plenty of simple tricks to bring an old laptop or PC back to life, and they won’t cost you a cent.

Here are some easy ways to make your slow computer feel faster.

Restart More Often

It sounds basic, but many people keep their computers in sleep mode for days or weeks. This keeps programs running in the background of your laptop PC and eats up resources. A quick restart clears all that and gives your system a fresh start.

If your PC feels sluggish, make restarting a daily habit.

Uninstall Apps You Never Use

Over time, most of us collect programs we no longer need. Old software can take up storage and even run hidden processes in the background.

Go to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program and get rid of the apps you don’t use. The fewer programs installed, the lighter and faster your computer will run.

Stop Programs From Launching at Startup

Nothing slows down a PC more than a long boot time. Often, it’s because too many apps try to open as soon as you turn your computer on.

To fix this:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Click on the Startup tab.
Disable programs you don’t actually need right away.

You’ll notice your computer starts up much quicker.

Clear Out Temporary Files

Every time you use your computer, it creates temporary files. Over time, these pile up and slow things down.

Keep Your System Updated

Windows updates can feel annoying, but they often include performance improvements. Outdated software can slow things down, so make sure you’re running the latest version.

Go to Settings > Windows Update and install updates regularly.

Turn Off Fancy Visual Effects

Windows 11 looks polished with animations and shadows, but older laptops struggle to keep up. Turning them off can speed things up instantly.

Here’s how:

Right-click This PC and select Properties.
Go to Advanced system settings.
Under Performance, click Settings.
Select Adjust for best performance.

It may not look as pretty, but it will feel faster.

Free Up Disk Space

If your hard drive is almost full, your computer will slow down. Delete old files, move photos and videos to the cloud, or transfer them to an external drive.

Aim to keep at least 15–20% of your storage free.

Disable Background Apps

Some apps keep running even when you don’t open them. They use memory and drain your system.

Head to Settings > Privacy > Background apps and turn off the ones you don’t need. You’ll free up resources immediately.

Defragment Your Hard Drive

If your laptop has a traditional hard drive (not an SSD), defragmenting can speed things up. It reorganizes how files are stored so they load faster.

Just search for Defragment and Optimize Drives, choose your drive, and click Optimize.

Tidy Up Your Browser

If you spend most of your time online, your browser may be the culprit. Too many tabs and extensions can slow everything down.

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Close tabs you don’t need. Remove extensions you never use. And clear your browsing history and cache. You’ll notice the difference right away.

Don’t Forget Your laptop PC Desktop

Believe it or not, a messy desktop can also slow down your computer. Windows treats every icon as a small process. Move files into folders and keep only a few shortcuts visible. Your PC will boot faster and look cleaner.

Final Thoughts

An old laptop or PC doesn’t have to feel useless. With a few tweaks — restarting often, removing clutter, limiting startup apps, and freeing space — you can get back much of the speed you thought was gone.

Try these fixes before rushing to buy a new machine. You’ll be surprised at how much life you can squeeze out of your old computer, all without spending a single penny.