Speed Up Your Old Laptop (Free Fixes First)
Before you buy anything, try these fixes. In 30–60 minutes you can reclaim RAM, reduce CPU spikes, tame your browser, and cool things down. Then, if needed, add the tiny upgrades that matter.
Quick snapshot
Task/Activity view
Open Task Manager / Activity Monitor / top to see top CPU/RAM hogs. Screenshot your baseline.
Storage
Check free space; aim for 15–25% free on SSDs to keep them fast.
Thermals
If the laptop feels hot or hisses, note temps and fan speed (any monitoring app). Dust matters.
Kill heavy startup apps
- Open startup settings and disable apps you don’t need on boot (messengers, updaters, game launchers).
- Uninstall big suites you never use. Keep only one antivirus.
- Reboot and compare CPU/RAM after 5 minutes of idle.
If a vendor updater is required for drivers/firmware, keep it—but prevent background scans every hour.
Put your browser on a diet
Tabs & extensions
- Close tab graveyards; use a tab snoozer.
- Disable heavy extensions and ad-block per-site where needed.
Profiles
Make a “Work” profile with only essential extensions. Split personal/social to another profile.
Media
Disable autoplay, lower default video resolution, and block background audio capture.
Disk space & health
Clean space
- Empty downloads, trash, temp folders.
- Sort by size; archive or delete large installers/ISOs.
Health check
Look at SMART/drive health in your OS tools. If the SSD shows many reallocated blocks or errors, plan a replacement.
Indexing
Let the search index complete, or limit it to important folders to reduce background churn.
Temperatures & fans
Dust & airflow
Blow out vents with compressed air (short bursts). Don’t block intakes; use a stand for airflow.
Thermal paste (advanced)
For older machines, re-pasting can drop temps. If under warranty, ask a pro.
Power plan
Use a balanced plan; cap turbo boost if fans scream constantly.
Updates & drivers
- Apply OS security updates; avoid optional beta drivers unless they fix a bug you have.
- Update GPU and Wi-Fi drivers from the vendor if performance is poor or unstable.
- Firmware/BIOS: update if a release notes stability, power, or security issues you hit.
OS tweaks (Win/macOS/Linux)
Windows
- Disable background apps you don’t use.
- Turn off visual effects like animations on low-end hardware.
- Reset “fresh start” only if the system is beyond saving—back up first.
macOS
- Trim login items; limit menu bar helpers.
- Check iCloud Drive settings (avoid syncing huge folders on tiny SSDs).
- Rebuild Spotlight index if search is slow.
Linux
- Swap to a lightweight DE (XFCE/LXQt) if RAM-starved.
- Mask services you don’t need; check journal/log rotation.
- Keep kernel and microcode current.
If you’re still slow after the free fixes, review the “Upgrades” section—small changes can be night and day.
When small upgrades make sense
| Upgrade | Impact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SSD (from HDD) | Huge—boot/app launches | Clone old drive; ensure correct interface (SATA vs NVMe). |
| More RAM | Big—multitasking | Useful if you’re running out (watch “memory pressure”). |
| Fresh OS install | Medium to big | After backup; removes years of cruft in one go. |
| Battery replacement | Stability on the go | Old batteries throttle performance under load. |
FAQs
Is a “PC cleaner” app worth it?
Usually no. Use your OS’s built-in tools and remove software you don’t need.
My fans are loud constantly—normal?
Likely heat. Clean vents, check background updaters, and review the power plan.
Should I upgrade or buy new?
If a cheap SSD + RAM fix your pain, upgrade. If the CPU is ancient and you need modern workloads (video, AI), consider a new machine.
