How to Speed Up a Slow Dell Laptop on Windows 10/11

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Cici 

Updated on April 22, 2024

Dell manufactures some of the finest laptops available on the planet. Their laptop designs are sleek, they come at reasonable prices, and they're lightweight while offering plenty of features. However, Dell laptops can become sluggish over time. Is your Dell laptop also experiencing slowdowns?

Understanding the exact reasons behind your Dell laptop's sluggish performance will help you address the issues and restore its speed, allowing you to enjoy a responsive experience as usual. Keep reading this article as we will discuss the factors causing your Dell laptop to run slow on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, along with tools that can assist in resolving these issues.

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How to Fix a Slow Performing Dell Laptop

As promised, here are a few solutions to fix your slow-running Dell laptop: 1. **Update Software and Drivers**: Ensure that your operating system, applications, and device drivers are up to date. Outdated software can cause performance issues. 2. **Run a Virus Scan**: Malware and viruses can significantly slow down your laptop. Use a reliable antivirus software to scan and remove any potential threats. 3. **Check for Background Processes**: Numerous running processes in the background can eat up your system resources. Open Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac) to identify and terminate unnecessary processes. 4. **Free Up Disk Space**: Delete temporary files, cache, and unnecessary programs. Consider using a disk cleanup tool to free up space. 5. **Adjust Power Settings**: Change your power settings to 'High Performance' mode, which can improve your laptop's speed. 6. **Disable Startup Programs**: Reduce the number of programs that launch at startup, as they can slow down booting and overall performance. 7. **Increase RAM**: If your laptop supports it, upgrading your RAM can significantly boost performance. 8. **Defragment the Hard Drive**: For laptops with traditional hard drives, defragmentation can help optimize file storage and improve speed. 9. **Check for Hardware Issues**: Sometimes, hardware components like the hard drive or RAM may be failing. Run diagnostic tests provided by Dell to identify any issues. 10. **Reset or Reinstall the OS**: As a last resort, you can reset your laptop to factory settings or reinstall the operating system, but make sure to backup your important data first. Remember, patience is key when troubleshooting, and these steps may not necessarily be in order of importance. Try them one by one, and hopefully, your Dell laptop will start running smoothly again.

1. Remove All External Devices and Restart the Computer 2. Check for Malware or Viruses 2. Check for Malware or Viruses 3. Update Drivers and Software 3. Update Drivers and Software 4. Run Windows Built-in Troubleshooters 4. Run Windows Built-in Troubleshooters 5. Check for Hardware Issues 5. Check for Hardware Issues 6. Perform a System Restore 6. Perform a System Restore 7. Boot in Safe Mode 7. Boot in Safe Mode 8. Check RAM and Hard Disk for Errors 8. Check RAM and Hard Disk for Errors 9. Update BIOS and Firmware 9. Update BIOS and Firmware 10. Contact Support or Professional Help 10. Contact Support or Professional Help

Have you connected external devices such as monitors, mice, keyboards, and SSDs or HDDs? Disconnect all of them from your computer and then restart your PC.

The reason you need to disconnect these devices is that they utilize your laptop's resources. There's a possibility that upon startup, these devices are consuming a significant amount of resources, which could lead to your Dell laptop functioning slowly.

2. Check for Malware

If your laptop is infected with malware, it can compromise many of its functions. It may cause your laptop to become unresponsive, stop it from starting up, and sluggish its performance. Utilize a malware remover to scan for and eliminate any malware present.

You could use a third-party malware remover tool or Windows' built-in Windows Defender to scan for and remove malware.

Check for malware

In addition to Windows' built-in virus cleanup tool, you can also use a third-party software like TotalAV to remove viruses, malware, and eliminate online threats from your computer:

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3. Optimize the Startup of Windows 10

On your computer, some installed programs might be set to launch automatically when Windows starts up. This can slow down your laptop. Disabling this will help your laptop boot up more quickly.

Here's how to disable apps that are set to launch when Windows starts up:

Step 1. Right-click on the "Start" button and select "Task Manager."

Step 2. Click on "Startup."

Optimize Startup

Step 3. Right-click on the apps that are labeled "High" under "Startup impact" and select "Disable."

Hopefully, this fixes your issue. If it doesn't, check out our next section!

4. Increase C Drive Space

If your C drive is full, that could be the reason your Dell laptop has slowed down. Freeing up space by deleting apps and unnecessary files should help. Uninstall unused apps and delete their cache files promptly. Restart your PC and check if your laptop performs better now.

Alternatively, you can also use tools Partition Master, trusted by over 530 million users, to utilize the Extend Partition feature and expand Local Disk C's storage. This should provide you with additional space on Local Disk C and improve your laptop's performance.

Option 1. Extend the System C drive with unallocated space

1. Right-click on the System C: drive and select "Resize/Move". 2. Drag the system partition end into the unallocated space to add it to the C: drive, then click "OK". 3. Click "Execute Task" and "Apply" to execute the operations and extend the C drive.

Option 2. Extend System C drive without unallocated space

1. Right-click on a large partition with sufficient free space on the system disk and select "Allocate Space". 2. At the "Allocate Space From (*) To" section, choose the system drive, then drag the end of the System C drive into the unallocated space. Click "OK" to confirm. 3. Click "Execute Task." This will display pending operations. Click "Apply" to save the changes and extend the C drive.

0:00-0:26 Extend System Drive with Unallocated Space; 0:27-0:58 Extend System Drive without Unallocated Space.

If that doesn't work, try the next solution, which should do the trick!

5. Clean Up the Hard Disk

If the above solution does not help, the hard disk should be reformatted.

Here's a quick method to free up space on Local Disk C by deleting files:

Step 1. Click on the magnifying glass icon.

Step 2. Search for and open "Disk Cleanup."

Step 3. Choose the file types that are taking up too much space and click "OK."

Select the files you want to delete, then click "OK".

Step 4. A prompt will appear. Click "Delete Files" to erase all the selected file types.

There's an even better solution than the one mentioned above. You can use Partition Master's Wipe Hard Drive feature to erase everything with just a few clicks and free up space on your hard drive in seconds.

6. Defragment the Hard Drive

A corrupted or fragmented hard drive could also cause this issue. In that case, you'll need to defragment the hard drive. Here's how to do it:

Here's what you need to do: 1. Identify the languages you want translated. 2. Provide the text or phrases that need to be translated. 3. Choose an appropriate translation tool or service, such as Google Translate or professional human translation services. 4. Input the text into the translation tool or service, selecting the source language and target language. 5. Review the translated text for accuracy and fluency. 6. If necessary, make any corrections or adjustments based on the context and intended meaning. 7. Repeat the process for each language you want to translate the text into. For example, if you have a sentence in Chinese that needs to be translated into English, you would input the Chinese text into a translation tool, select Chinese as the source language and English as the target language. The tool would then provide the translated text, which you should review for quality before using.

Step 1. Click on the magnifying glass icon and search for "Defragment and Optimize Drives."

Step 2. Choose the drive you want to clean and click on "Analyze."

Step 3. After scanning the drive, select it and click "Optimize."

Defragment Hard Drive

Step 4. Restart your computer and check if your laptop is still slow.

7. Upgrade Dell Hard Drive to SSD Translation: Upgrade the hard drive in a Dell computer to a Solid State Drive (SSD).

If nothing has worked so far, swap your hard drive with an SSD, as SSDs are much faster and more durable than HDDs. But moving data is a task, and we know that. However, using tools like Partition Master, you can clone the data on your HDD and move the exact data to your latest SSD. And the SSD storage capacity should be equal to or even larger than the used disk space on your Dell HDD.

Then, download the tool Partition Master and follow the steps to clone the data:

Step 1. Select the source disk.

Here are the translations for the provided text: 1. Click "Clone" from the left menu. Select "Clone OS Disk" or "Clone Data Disk" and click "Next". 2. Choose the source disk and click "Next".

Step 2. Select the target disk.

Translate the following sentences into English: - Select the desired HDD/SSD as your destination and click "Next" to proceed. - Read the warning message and confirm by clicking the "Yes" button.

Step 3. View the disk layout and edit the target disk partition size.

When the program warns you that it will erase all data on the target disk, click “Continue” (if you have important data on the target disk, back it up in advance).

Here, you can choose to "Autofit the disk", "Clone as source", or "Edit disk layout" to customize your disk configuration. (Select the last option if you want to allocate more space to the C drive.)

Step 4. Click "Start" to begin the disk cloning process.

After replacing your HDD with an SSD, observe if your laptop shows improved performance. If it doesn't, the problem might be related to the RAM.

You might also be interested in the following topics related to hard drive upgrades:

8. Increase the Capacity of RAM

If the above solutions don't yield results, your Dell laptop might be running slow due to insufficient RAM. Upgrade your RAM and see if it improves the performance. Ideally, upgrading the RAM should help your Dell laptop function normally, especially if it has less than 4 GB of RAM.

Step 1. Check your RAM's specific condition: open Task Manager > Performance > Memory.

Check RAM

If the RAM is full, you can either clear it or upgrade to a larger capacity one:

Step 2. Turn off the laptop and remove the laptop battery.

< strong >Step 3. < /strong> Check for compatible RAM and install the RAM into the slot.

Step 4. Attach the back panel and turn on the power.

We hope this article assisted you in resolving your laptop issues and that it is now functioning normally. Share this article with your friends and family who own Dell laptops and encounter the same problem. By sharing this article, you can provide them with assistance.

Overview of a Dell Laptop Running Slow

Dell laptop running slow is a very common issue. Many users have reported this problem on forums. Here's a typical scenario:

But don't worry! We've got you covered with detailed solutions for the above issues. In the following section, we'll clearly outline the root causes so you can prevent the error. Here are two questions that people often concern about Dell laptops:

#2. What Are the Dell Performance Issues?

Here are some performance issues you might encounter when your Dell laptop begins to run slowly. However, bear in mind that these issues can be resolved using the solutions provided below.

Here are the translations of the provided sentences into English: 1. Your Dell laptop may become unresponsive. 2. Your laptop could keep freezing. 3. Your laptop gets unreasonably hot quickly. 4. It takes ages for Windows to boot up.

All of these symptoms suggest that your Dell laptop's performance could use a boost. By recognizing these signs, you can anticipate issues with your laptop and address them promptly.

Further Reading: Dell No Bootable Devices Found

2. Why Are Dell Laptops Running Slow?

There could be several reasons behind your Dell laptop slowing down. Here are some possible causes:

• Insufficient RAM
• When Windows 10 was updated, the outdated files weren't properly deleted.
• Outdated drivers
• Fragmented hard drive
• Malware infection
• Disk error
• Low storage space

This article provides corresponding solutions for these reasons. You can continue reading the content provided earlier to resolve the issue of a slow-running Dell laptop.

Conclusion

Do you know how to solve the problem of your Dell laptop running slowly? In our view, you should first disconnect all external devices and scan for malware. If these aren't the causes of the issue, we suggest optimizing startup applications or performing a hard disk cleanup. Additionally, consider replacing your HDD with an SSD and upgrading your RAM.

While performing the repair, I highly recommend utilizing the tool Partition Master - a powerful disk partition management software. If you encounter any issues with your Dell laptop, you can seek assistance from it and use it to boot from USB on your Dell laptop.

Frequently Asked Questions About a Dell Laptop Running Slow

Do you have any other queries about why your Dell laptop is running slow? Here, we address a few such concerns.

< strong > 1. Why is my Dell laptop slow to start up? < / strong >

There can be multiple reasons for your laptop running slowly, such as insufficient hard disk space, inadequate RAM, outdated drivers, or the presence of malware on your system.

< strong >2. How do I speed up my Dell laptop? < /strong > To speed up your Dell laptop, follow these steps: 1. **Free up disk space**: Remove unnecessary files, programs, and temporary data. Use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool or third-party cleaners like CCleaner. 2. **Update software**: Keep your operating system, drivers, and applications updated to ensure optimal performance. 3. **Uninstall unused programs**: Remove any programs you no longer need, as they could be consuming resources. 4. **Disable startup apps**: Reduce the number of apps that launch at startup to improve boot time and overall performance. Access this through Task Manager in Windows. 5. **Adjust visual effects**: Choose "Adjust for best performance" in the System Properties to disable unnecessary visual animations. 6. **Defragment the hard drive**: If you have a traditional hard drive, defragment it regularly to optimize file organization. 7. **Check for malware**: Run a full system scan using an antivirus program to ensure your laptop isn't slowed down by malicious software. 8. **Increase RAM**: Upgrade your RAM if it's below 8GB, as more memory can significantly improve performance. 9. **Optimize power settings**: Switch to "High Performance" mode in the Power Options to prioritize performance over battery life. 10. **Clean the laptop**: Dust and dirt can affect cooling, causing the laptop to slow down due to overheating. Regularly clean the vents and fans. By implementing these tips, you should notice a noticeable improvement in your Dell laptop's speed.

Follow the solutions above, as we've outlined all the methods you can try to speed up your Dell laptop, including:

Here are the translations of the provided phrases into English:
• Increase C drive space
Increase the space on the C drive
• Clean up the hard disk
Clean up the hard disk
• Defragment the hard drive
Defragment the hard drive
• Upgrade Dell hard drive
Upgrade the Dell hard drive

3. Why is my laptop suddenly slow?

If your computer suddenly slows down, it might be due to running too many programs simultaneously. Running multiple programs can lead to decreased performance, impacting your computer's processing capability. Furthermore, a virus infection or malware presence could also contribute to your computer's sudden slowdown.