Slow Boot Time! SSD Taking Long to Boot in Windows 11/10

Updated by

Tracy King 

Written by

Linda 

Updated on April 19, 2024

Top 6 Methods to Solve Slow Boot Issues with Windows 11/10 SSD

Does it take 30 seconds to 2 minutes for SSD to boot in Windows 10? It appears that you're experiencing an SSD slow boot issue. You can try any of these solutions from our comprehensive guide on how to address the problem of the SSD taking a long time to boot.

Overview of Slow SSD Boot Up Time in Windows 11/10 Translation: Overview of Slow Solid State Drive (SSD) Boot Time in Windows 11/10

When it comes to making your Windows 10 computer boot at lightning speed, you might consider installing Windows 10 on an SSD. For quite some time, SSDs have consistently outperformed HDDs in boot performance. Typically, an SSD boots up in around 20 seconds, whereas an HDD takes about 45 seconds. However, this isn't always the case. Some users report that even after they configure the SSD as the boot drive, their Windows 10 still takes an eternity to load, ranging from 30 seconds to an astonishing 2 minutes!

You're experiencing slow boot issues with your SSD, and it's time to address them. To assist you effectively, we've divided the troubleshooting process into two parts, so take your time to explore all the viable solutions provided. Don't hesitate to share this article to help others learn about these fixes as well.

Fix 1: Disable Unnecessary Services on Startup to Speed Up SSD

If your computer and laptop are running many services, your SSD might take a long time to boot. Additionally, you might encounter the 100% disk usage error. To enhance your SSD's boot time performance, you can first disable unnecessary services.

Step 1. Type "Task Manager" in the Windows search bar and click on "Task Manager".

Step 2. In the "Startup" tab, choose the process you want to disable.

Disable unnecessary services

Fix 2. Solve SSD Slow Boot Time by Enabling Fast Startup

Fast Startup in Windows 10 (called Fast Boot in Windows 8) works like the hybrid sleep mode of previous Windows versions. It makes your computer boot up even faster, saving valuable seconds every time you turn your machine on.

Steps to Enable Fast Startup:

Step 1. Press Windows + X or right-click the Start menu and choose "Power Options". In this window, select "Additional power settings".

Step 2. Select "Choose what the power buttons do" from the menu on the left.

Choose what the power buttons do

Step 3. Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable." Then, ensure that "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" is checked. Click "Save changes."

If this feature has been enabled, you can disable it to see if this works.

Fix 3: Manage Your SSD with 4K Alignment to Solve Slow Boot-Time Issues

This is for the situation where you set up a new SSD as the boot drive on Windows 11/10, either through a clean installation or by cloning from an HDD to SSD. Perhaps the SSD's performance is not fully optimized, and you require a free partition manager tool. This tool offers the 4K alignment feature to align the 4K sectors on your SSD. By correctly aligning the partitions on the SSD, you can ensure it achieves its maximum performance.

In addition to 4K alignment, this software also provides the following features:

• Clone a disk to a new one
• Resize HDD or SSD partition to the desired partition size
• Merge partitions to obtain more space
• Easily create, format, or delete a partition

Download Partition Manager Free on your Windows 11/10 computer and perform 4K alignment.

Step 1. Go to "Toolkit" and choose "4K Alignment".

Step 2. Select the disk that you want to align. Click the "Start" button.

This solution also applies to other issues, such as Windows 10 running slow after cloning.

How to Fix Windows 10 Slow After Clone - Effective Solutions

Did you clone your Windows and now encounter the issue of Windows 10 running slow after clone? Discover the comprehensive guide on how to resolve it and optimize your SSD following the cloning process.

Fix 4. Run a System Cleanup on SSD

Typically, an SSD is used as the system drive. The best way to make the most of an SSD is to avoid storing large amounts of personal data files or installing programs on it, aside from critical system files, since a lot of data can impact its read and write speeds. If you've been using it improperly, try clearing out some unnecessary items to alleviate the load on the drive.

< strong > Steps to clean up system junks: < /strong >

Step 1. Download and install the Partition Master Suite.

Step 2. Click PC Cleaner and install the CleanGinus tool. Then, click "Cleanup" and "Scan" to begin cleaning your system and restore your PC to its original state.

Step 3. The software will scan your entire computer to locate idle data files that take up a lot of disk space. You can choose useless large files, system junk files, and Windows invalid entries, then click "Clean" to initiate the system cleanup process.

Step 4. When the scan is complete, click “Done” to finish cleaning system junk files.

Fix 5: Prevent Bloatware/Services from Loading at Startup

Aside from the unnecessary services that suspiciously slow down your computer's startup speed, be particularly vigilant about newly installed programs. They often silently consume your computer's memory and resources, resulting in 100% disk usage, which in turn extends the boot time on an SSD. You can disable their autostart settings by following these steps:

Step 1. Press and hold the "Ctrl + Shift + Del" keys simultaneously to open Task Manager.

Step 2. Then, select the "Startup" tab and identify any unnecessary processes with a high startup impact. Click the "Disable" button to stop them from running at startup.

Stop programs running at startup to fix Windows 10 SSD slow boot

Step 3. Next, go to the "Services" tab and select "Hide all Microsoft services," then uncheck any non-essential services you want to disable and click "Stop."

Hide all Microsoft services to fix Windows 10 SSD slow boot

Fix 6. Adjust/Increase Virtual Memory to Resolve SSD Long Boot-Time Issue

Pay close attention. Your computer has low memory, which might cause Windows 11/10 to take a long time to boot on an SSD. Users suggest that you can fix the slow boot time on your SSD by adjusting the virtual memory settings.

Steps to increase virtual memory: 1. Access the Control Panel: - On Windows, search for "Control Panel" in the Start menu or Windows Search bar. - On macOS, click on the Apple menu and select "System Preferences." 2. Open System Properties or System Settings: - In Windows, click on "System" in the Control Panel and then choose "Advanced system settings" on the left side. - On macOS, click on "System Preferences," then select "Hardware" or "Memory" (depending on the version). 3. Navigate to the Advanced tab (Windows) or Memory tab (macOS): - In the "System Properties" window, click on the "Advanced" tab. - On macOS, click on "Memory" within the "Hardware" section. 4. Change Virtual Memory settings (Windows): - Under the "Advanced" tab, click on "Settings" in the "Performance" section. - In the "Performance Options" dialog box, click on the "Advanced" tab, and then click "Change" under "Virtual Memory." - Uncheck "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives" if it's checked. - Select the drive where your operating system is installed (usually C:). - Choose "Custom size" and enter a larger "Initial size" and "Maximum size." - Make sure the values are at least 1.5 times your physical RAM but not exceeding your hard drive space. - Click "Set" and then "OK" to apply changes. 5. Adjust Memory Allocation (macOS): - macOS typically manages virtual memory automatically, but you can use third-party tools to adjust it if needed. 6. Restart your computer: - After making the changes, restart your computer for the new virtual memory settings to take effect. Remember that increasing virtual memory may not always solve performance issues, as it relies on your hard drive, which is generally slower than RAM. Ensuring your system is up-to-date and optimizing other settings might be more beneficial.

Step 1. Press Windows Key + R, type sysdm.cpl in the Run dialog box, and click "OK" to open System Properties.

Step 2. Click "Advanced system settings".

Click "Advanced system settings".

Step 3. Click "Settings" under the Advanced tab in System Properties.

Click "Settings" in the "Advanced" tab:

Step 4. Click "Change" under the Advanced pane.

Click "Change" under "Advanced"

Step 5. Untick "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives". Tick "Custom Size". Then, set the Initial size and Maximum size yourself. Click "Set" and "OK".

Note: The size you set should be greater than the recommended size.

Change the maximum size of virtual memory

It is highly recommended that you click on more solutions on this page: How to fix Windows 10 slow boot after update. There are numerous additional helpful tips awaiting your exploration. I hope you have successfully resolved the slow boot issue with your SSD in Windows 11/10.

Additional Tip - Seek 1-on-1 Remote Assistance

If you continue to experience issues, you can utilize the 1 on 1 Remote Assistance Service. This service allows you to schedule a remote desktop session with a dedicated support engineer.

Conclusion

That's everything you need to know about fixing slow SSD boot times on Windows 11/10. I hope these solutions have resolved your issue. If you encounter other problems such as extremely slow Windows 10, a slowing hard drive, or a laptop with very slow file transfer speed, you can also seek out tools for additional assistance.

"Frequently Asked Questions: Slow Boot Time for Windows 11/10 on Solid State Drive"

Here are some questions and answers related to slow boot issues with Solid State Drives (SSDs). Keep reading if you'd like to learn more.

What is a good speed for an SSD? "A good speed for an SSD (Solid State Drive) typically ranges from 500 MB/s to 3,500 MB/s or even higher for the latest NVMe models. This speed refers to the sequential read and write speeds, which are crucial factors in determining the overall performance of the drive. The exact speed depends on the interface, type, and generation of the SSD. For example, SATA SSDs usually have speeds around 550 MB/s, while M.2 NVMe SSDs can reach up to 7,000 MB/s or more."

An average read speed is around 500MB/s, and an average write speed is around 300MB/s (at least) for virtually any SATA III SSD available today. The Samsung 860 EVO delivers almost the fastest transfer rates (up to 550MB/s read and 520MB/s write) possible on a SATA III interface.

Does an SSD improve boot time?

Yes, using an SSD as a system drive will improve your boot time and Windows performance.

Why does my computer take so long to start up?

Here are the reasons behind a slow Windows 10 startup:

Here are the translations of those languages into English:
• Malware or spyware
• Windows startup programs
• Fragmented files
• Corrupted system files
• Incompatibility between your current drivers and the Windows 10 update
• Incorrect configuration in BIOS