Here are 8 ways to fix slow boot times in Windows:
- Disable Fast Startup. Fast Startup is a feature that allows Windows to save your system state when you shut down your computer. This can speed up the startup process, but it can also cause slow boot times if you have any problems with your system. To disable Fast Startup, follow these steps:
- Open the Control Panel.
- Click on System and Security.
- Click on Power Options.
- Click on the Choose what the power buttons do link.
- Click on the Change settings that are currently unavailable link.
- Under Shutdown settings, uncheck the box next to Turn on fast startup (recommended).
- Click on the Save changes button.
- Adjust Paging File Settings. The paging file is a portion of your hard drive that Windows uses to store data that doesn’t fit in your computer’s memory. If your paging file is too small, it can cause slow boot times. To adjust your paging file settings, follow these steps:
- Open the Control Panel.
- Click on System and Security.
- Click on System.
- Click on the Advanced system settings link in the left-hand pane.
- Click on the Performance tab.
- Click on the Settings button in the Virtual memory section.
- Under Virtual memory, make sure that the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives option is unchecked.
- If the Initial size and Maximum size boxes are blank, enter the following values:
- Initial size: 1.5 times the amount of installed RAM
- Maximum size: 3 times the amount of installed RAM
- Click on the Set button.
- Click on the OK button twice.
- Turn Off the Linux Subsystem. The Linux Subsystem is a feature of Windows 10 that allows you to run Linux applications on your Windows computer. However, the Linux Subsystem can also cause slow boot times. To turn off the Linux Subsystem, follow these steps:
- Open the Powershell app as an administrator.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
Code snippet
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux
- Update Graphics Drivers. Outdated graphics drivers can cause slow boot times. To update your graphics drivers, follow these steps:
- Go to the website of your graphics card manufacturer.
- Download the latest drivers for your graphics card.
- Install the drivers.
- Disable Some Startup Programs. Startup programs are programs that start automatically when you turn on your computer. If you have too many startup programs, it can slow down your boot time. To disable some startup programs, follow these steps:
- Open the Task Manager.
- Click on the Startup tab.
- Select the programs that you want to disable.
- Click on the Disable button.
- Defragment Your Hard Drive. A fragmented hard drive can slow down your boot time. To defragment your hard drive, follow these steps:
- Open the Defragment and Optimize Drives app.
- Select the drive that you want to defragment.
- Click on the Analyze button.
- If the drive is fragmented, click on the Optimize button.
- Upgrade Your Hardware. If you have an old computer, it may not be able to boot up quickly. If you have tried all of the other solutions and your boot time is still slow, you may need to upgrade your hardware.
- Use a Solid State Drive (SSD). A solid state drive (SSD) is a much faster type of storage than a traditional hard drive. If you are able to upgrade your computer to an SSD, it will significantly improve your boot time.