A slow computer is the #1 tech complaint — and most of the time it's completely fixable without calling IT. Choose your operating system above and follow the steps below.
Step 1 — Restart Properly
Do a full Shut Down, not Sleep
Many Windows users put their PC to sleep instead of shutting it down. Sleep doesn't clear RAM or stop background processes. Click Start → Power → Shut Down. Wait 30 seconds, then power back on. This alone often fixes sluggishness.
Step 2 — Check What's Eating Resources
Open Task Manager
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Click "More details" if you see a simplified view. Click the CPU or Memory column header to sort by usage. Anything consistently above 30–40% CPU that you don't recognize is worth investigating.
Step 3 — Cut Down Startup Programs
Disable unnecessary startup apps
In Task Manager, click the Startup tab. Right-click programs you don't need at login — Teams, Spotify, Discord, OneDrive, updaters — and choose Disable. They'll still work when you open them; they just won't launch automatically.
Step 4 — Free Up Disk Space
Run Disk Cleanup
Click Start, search Disk Cleanup, and run it on your C: drive. Check all boxes, then also click "Clean up system files" for even more space. Also empty your Recycle Bin and clear your Downloads folder manually.
Step 5 — Check for Pending Updates
Install Windows updates
Pending updates can cause slowdowns as Windows works in the background. Go to Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates. Install everything, then restart when prompted.
Step 1 — Restart Properly
Do a full Restart, not just close the lid
Closing your MacBook lid puts it to sleep but doesn't clear memory or background processes. Go to Apple Menu () → Restart. When prompted, leave "Reopen windows when logging back in" unchecked for a truly fresh start.
Step 2 — Check What's Eating Resources
Open Activity Monitor
Press Cmd + Space, type Activity Monitor, and press Enter. Click the CPU tab and sort by % CPU. If any process is consistently high and you don't recognize it, select it and click the X button at the top to quit it (you can always re-open the app).
Step 3 — Reduce Login Items
Remove apps from startup
Go to System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions. Under "Open at Login," remove anything you don't need starting automatically — Spotify, Teams, Dropbox helpers, etc. Use the minus (−) button to remove each one.
Step 4 — Free Up Disk Space
Use Storage Management
Go to Apple Menu → About This Mac → More Info → Storage Settings. Click Recommendations — macOS will suggest specific items to delete or move. Also empty the Trash: right-click the Trash icon in your Dock and choose Empty Trash.
Step 5 — Install macOS Updates
Check for software updates
Go to System Settings → General → Software Update. Install any available updates and restart. Also open the App Store and update all your apps — outdated apps can cause slowdowns and compatibility issues.
Still Slow After All That?
If you've worked through the steps and your machine is still sluggish, the problem may be hardware-related — aging RAM, a failing drive, or overheating. We can run a remote diagnostic in about 20 minutes.
Schedule a Remote Diagnostic