If you’re experiencing slow boot times in Windows 11, there are several steps you can take to improve the situation. Here are eight ways to fix slow boot times:
- Disable unnecessary startup programs: Many applications and services launch automatically during startup, which can slow down the boot process. To disable unnecessary startup programs, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, go to the “Startup” tab, and disable any programs that you don’t need to start with your computer.
- Update your drivers: Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause slow boot times. Make sure all your device drivers are up to date by visiting the manufacturer’s website or using a driver update utility.
- Check for malware and viruses: Malware or viruses can impact system performance, including boot times. Run a thorough scan with your preferred antivirus software to detect and remove any malicious programs.
- Optimize your hard drive: Over time, your hard drive can become fragmented, leading to slower boot times. To optimize your hard drive, open the File Explorer, right-click on your system drive (usually C:), select “Properties,” go to the “Tools” tab, and click on “Optimize.” This will defragment the drive and improve its performance.
- Disable unnecessary visual effects: Windows 11 includes various visual effects that can consume system resources during startup. Disabling these effects can help speed up the boot process. To adjust visual effects, right-click on the Start button, select “System,” go to the “Advanced system settings,” click on the “Settings” button under the “Performance” section, and choose either the “Adjust for best performance” option or manually disable specific effects.
- Clean up your disk: Removing unnecessary files and freeing up disk space can improve boot times. You can use the built-in Disk Cleanup utility in Windows 11 to delete temporary files, system files, and other unneeded data. To access it, open the File Explorer, right-click on your system drive, select “Properties,” go to the “General” tab, and click on the “Disk Cleanup” button.
- Disable Fast Startup: Fast Startup is a feature in Windows that helps your computer boot faster by saving the system state to a hibernation file. However, it can sometimes cause issues with certain hardware configurations. Disabling Fast Startup can help in such cases. To disable it, open the Control Panel, go to “Power Options,” click on “Choose what the power buttons do,” click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable,” and uncheck the “Turn on fast startup” option.
- Upgrade your hardware: If you’ve tried the above steps and still experience slow boot times, it might be time to consider upgrading your hardware. Adding more RAM, replacing your hard drive with a solid-state drive (SSD), or upgrading your processor can significantly improve boot times and overall system performance.
Remember to restart your computer after applying any changes to see if they have an impact on boot times.