What to Do When Your Computer Is Running Slow

If your Windows PC or Mac has been taking forever to open a program, or the little spinning circle seems to show up every time you click something, you're not imagining it. Computers do slow down over time, and it's one of the most common reasons people call for help.

The good news is that a slow computer is usually fixable, and most of the time it isn't a sign that anything is seriously wrong. This article walks through the simple things you can check yourself, in plain English, before you assume the worst.

Why a computer running slow doesn't always mean trouble

A computer running slow can have several ordinary causes: too many programs trying to run at once, a browser with dozens of tabs open, a hard drive that's nearly full, or a computer that simply hasn't been restarted in weeks. All of these build up quietly in the background, and none of them mean your computer is broken.

There is one cause worth taking seriously, which we'll get to further down. But start with the simple checks first, because they solve the problem most of the time.

Start with a restart

This sounds too simple to work, but it often does. When you leave a computer on for days or weeks at a time, programs you're not using can keep running quietly in the background, using up memory and slowing everything else down.

Restarting clears all of that out and gives your computer a fresh start. On Windows, open the Start menu and choose Restart. On a Mac, open the Apple menu in the top-left corner and choose Restart. Save anything you're working on first — restarting won't harm your computer, but it will close whatever you have open, and unsaved work in other programs can be lost.

Check how many programs are running

Sometimes a computer slows down because several programs are open and working at once, even ones you forgot about.

On Windows, right-click an empty spot on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen and choose Task Manager. It shows every program currently running and how much of your computer's resources each one is using. On a Mac, open Activity Monitor (search for it using the magnifying glass icon, or find it inside the Applications folder, in the Utilities folder). It does the same job.

You don't need to understand everything on the screen. Just look for a program using an unusually large share, and if it's something you don't recognize or don't need right now, close it.

Look at how many browser tabs you have open

Every tab you have open in Chrome, Safari, or Edge uses some of your computer's memory, even ones sitting quietly in the background. If you tend to collect tabs over days or weeks, that adds up.

Try closing tabs you're finished with, or bookmark pages you want to come back to and close the rest. A browser with twenty or thirty tabs open is a common, overlooked reason a computer feels sluggish.

Make sure you have free storage space

A computer that's almost completely full of files, photos, and programs will often run more slowly, because it needs some free space to work efficiently. On Windows, open Settings and look under System for storage information. On a Mac, click the Apple menu, choose About This Mac, and look at the storage tab. If you're very low on space, consider moving old photos or files you rarely use to an external drive, or deleting programs you no longer open.

Check that updates are installed

An outdated computer can run slower and is also less protected. If you haven't checked in a while, it's worth taking a few minutes to look. We've written a full guide on installing updates safely on your Windows PC or Mac if you want the complete steps.

When a slow computer might mean something more

Most slowdowns come from the ordinary causes above. But a sudden slowdown — especially alongside pop-ups, new toolbars you didn't install, or a fan that runs loudly even when you aren't doing much — can sometimes point to malware, which is harmful software that found its way onto your computer without your permission.

If that sounds like what's happening to you, it's worth reading our guide on the signs your computer may have malware to see whether it matches what you're noticing.

This is also where having the right protection in place matters. PorchswingProtect was made for seniors, works quietly in the background on both Windows and Mac, and includes a real US-based Porchswing person you can call if something looks wrong — rather than a confusing alert you have to interpret on your own.

What to do if you're stuck

If you've tried restarting, closing programs, and freeing up space, and your computer is still running slow, you don't have to keep fighting with it alone. Sometimes a computer genuinely needs a deeper cleanup, and a Porchswing technician can take care of it for you, in your home or remotely over the phone or computer.

If you want quiet protection on your Windows or Mac computer — with a real Porchswing person to call — learn about PorchswingProtect. Or call us at (916) 521-0065 and we'll help you set it up.

Common questions

Will restarting my computer delete my files?

No. Restarting closes programs and clears temporary memory, but it does not delete your documents, photos, or files. Just save any open work first, since unsaved work in other programs can be lost when they close.

How often should I restart my computer?

There's no strict rule, but restarting every few days, or whenever things start to feel sluggish, is a reasonable habit. It's a simple step that solves a surprising number of slowdowns.

Is a slow computer always a sign of a virus?

No. Most slow computers are simply dealing with too many open programs, too little free storage, or too much time since the last restart. A sudden slowdown paired with pop-ups or strange new programs is worth a closer look, but slowness on its own usually has an ordinary explanation.