How to Speed Up Your Laptop Without Buying a New One

Sandeep A
By Sandeep A
Frustrated person staring at a slow laptop with speed and performance graphs in the background.

1. Turn Off Startup Programs – Clean the Mess Before It Starts

Ever wondered why your laptop acts lazy just after turning it on? That’s because it’s busy opening all sorts of random apps in the background. Half of them, you didn’t even ask for. Like, why is Zoom starting on its own when all you clicked was Chrome?

No need to panic. Just do this:

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
  • Head over to the Startup tab
  • Right-click and Disable whatever you don’t need urgently

Tip: Keep your antivirus and system-related stuff ON. Rest, just remove the extra load.

2. Remove Old Apps – Like That One Game You Played Once in 2019

We all have this habit of keeping old apps “Shaayad kaam aa jaaye” type. But truth be told, most of them just sit and slow your laptop down.

So better to do some cleaning:

  • Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps
  • Check what you haven’t used in months
  • Uninstall them without any mercy

If you’re confused about any program, quickly Google it first. Better safe than sorry.

3. Delete Temporary Files – Give Your Laptop a Fresh Breath

Like we throw old wrappers and bills into the dustbin, your laptop also collects useless files over time. These “temporary” files do nothing but take space.

Clear them like this:

  • Press Windows + R, type temp, and hit Enter
  • Delete all files shown there
  • Then do the same with %temp% and prefetch

Feels nice, right? Like giving your laptop a warm bath after a long day.

4. Keep Your System Updated – Those Annoying Updates Actually Help

Yes, Windows updates show up at the worst times. Right before meetings or online exams. But skipping them only slows things down.

Here’s what to do:

  • Go to Settings > Windows Update
  • Click Check for Updates
  • For drivers, go to Device Manager, update manually or use tools like Driver Booster

Updates are like that bitter neem juice don’t like it, but it works.

5. If Possible, Switch to SSD – The Best Upgrade for Speed

Okay, this one costs a bit. But if you can save ₹2000-3000, then installing an SSD is like giving your old scooter a Bullet engine.

Even slow laptops start running like new. Boot-up time drops like magic. Multitasking becomes smoother than desi butter on hot roti.

If money is tight, no problem. But if you’ve got some spare cash, it’s worth it.

6. Do a Malware Check – Hidden Enemies Slow You Down

Sometimes your laptop acts weird slow, hanging, noisy fan. But no virus pop-up. Still, something’s wrong. That’s malware quietly doing mischief in the background.

Don’t take a chance:

  • Use Windows Defender or trusted tools like Malwarebytes
  • Run a full scan every week
  • And please, avoid downloading shady files or pirated movies (haan haan, we’ve all done it once)

7. Reduce Fancy Visuals – Shiny Effects Are Not Always Good

Windows has too many animations opening, closing, shadow, zoom, etc. Looks nice, but it eats up speed.

To tone it down:

  • Right-click This PC > Properties > Advanced System Settings
  • Under Performance, click Settings
  • Choose Adjust for best performance (or select what you don’t need)

Your screen may look a little plain, but your laptop will breathe easy.

8. Clean Your Desktop – Yes, That Mess Slows Things Too

You’ve kept everything on the desktop photos, documents, project folders, even shortcuts from 2017.

Time to clean up:

  • Move extra files into folders
  • Keep only 3-4 important icons outside
  • Also, switch off slideshow wallpaper. It looks cool, but eats up RAM

Less clutter = faster loading.

9. Restart Your Laptop Properly – Don’t Just Keep Putting It to Sleep

Many of us just shut the lid and move on. But doing this for days builds up background processes.

Make it a habit:

  • Restart your laptop every 2-3 days
  • It clears memory and refreshes the system

Think of it like when we take off our slippers, wash our feet, and sleep well—same feeling for your machine.

Final Words – Don’t Give Up on Your Laptop Yet

Look, not every laptop problem needs a new laptop. Sometimes, a little cleaning, some jugaad, and basic care can make even a 5-year-old machine run smooth like fresh lassi on a hot day.

So next time your laptop lags, don’t start blaming fate. Try these steps and see the magic.

🔗 Related Reads You’ll Love

If speeding up your laptop without spending a rupee felt like a win, you’ll also enjoy our post on Best Budget Laptops Under ₹30,000 in India – 2025. It’s perfect if you’re planning to upgrade without burning a hole in your pocket.

And if you like solving everyday tech problems with simple hacks, check out Top 10 Must-Have Tech Gadgets in 2025.
Both guides help you get the best performance without needing a computer degree—or a new wallet.

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

Name is required.
Valid email is required.
Comment cannot be empty.