Why Your Computer is Slow All of a Sudden

Computer performance issues are a headache and the causes can be mysterious, as there are thousands of software bugs, drive issues, and other issues that might cause a slow computer. You could have a virus, be downloading multiple large files at once, have too many open apps and programs open, opened too many tabs on your web browsers without closing them, have poor Wi-Fi or internet connections . . . the list goes on and on. Thankfully, there’s some good news. You can root out the cause of a slow computer with comprehensive solutions, narrow down the possible causes, and get back up to speed.

How to Fix a Slow Computer

These solutions are arranged from the least to most disruptive, so it’s best to follow them in order. There’s no need to reinstall Windows if your slow computer is the result of too many open browser tabs. Also, skipping steps might hide the real cause of the problem.

My Computer Is Still Slow. Now What?

The solutions in this guide are exhaustive. If your computer is still slow, then the computer is either too old to run modern software well or has defective hardware causing a performance problem. You’ll need to take your computer to a repair shop for further troubleshooting or consider a newer, faster PC to replace your current machine.