Windows 11 Slow Startup? Here’s What Actually Fixed It for Me
When I upgraded to Windows 11, I didn’t expect my laptop to suddenly take forever to start. What used to boot in under 20 seconds started dragging past a full minute. If you’re in the same situation, you’re not imagining things—Windows 11 slow startup is a real issue, especially on laptops that aren’t brand new.
The good news? You usually don’t need a new computer. After testing several fixes myself, I found a few that genuinely made a difference. This guide walks you through those fixes in plain English, without unnecessary technical jargon.
Why Windows 11 Can Take So Long to Start
Windows 11 looks modern, but under the hood it runs more background services than older versions. Over time, a few things tend to slow it down:
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Apps quietly adding themselves to startup
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Fast Startup causing conflicts instead of helping
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Drivers that never updated properly
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Low disk space on the system drive
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Older hard drives instead of SSDs
Most users have more than one of these problems at the same time.
First, Try These Quick Checks
Before changing settings, do these basic checks. They take less than five minutes.
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Restart your PC once (not Shut Down → Power On)
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Make sure Windows Update has finished installing updates
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Check that drive C: isn’t almost full
If startup is still slow after this, move on.
Disable Startup Apps (This Makes the Biggest Difference)
This is the fix that helped me the most.
Many apps don’t ask permission before launching at startup. Messaging apps, launchers, and updaters all pile up and slow everything down.
What to do:
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Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
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Open the Startup tab
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Look at the “Startup impact” column
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Disable anything you don’t absolutely need
Examples you can safely disable:
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Spotify
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Microsoft Teams (if you don’t use it daily)
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Adobe updaters
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Game launchers
Don’t worry—you can still open these apps manually later.
Turn Off Fast Startup (Yes, Really)
Despite its name, Fast Startup often slows things down on Windows 11, especially after updates.
I was skeptical, but turning it off reduced my boot time noticeably.
Steps:
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Open Control Panel
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Go to Power Options
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Click Choose what the power buttons do
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Click Change settings that are currently unavailable
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Uncheck Turn on fast startup
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Save and restart
Update Your Drivers (Especially Graphics)
Outdated drivers are silent performance killers.
Windows Update doesn’t always install the best version, especially for graphics drivers.
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Open Device Manager
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Update drivers under:
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Display adapters
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Disk drives
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Network adapters
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If your laptop brand has a support website (Dell, HP, Lenovo), check there too.
Check Your Disk for Problems
A drive with errors can slow startup without showing obvious symptoms.
Quick check:
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Open File Explorer
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Right-click Local Disk (C:)
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Properties → Tools → Check
Let Windows fix any issues it finds.
Scan for Malware (Don’t Skip This)
Even careful users sometimes pick up background malware from free downloads.
Use Windows Security and
run a full scan.
If something suspicious is running at startup, this often catches it.
If Your Laptop Uses an HDD, This Is the Real Bottleneck
If your system still uses a traditional hard drive, no software tweak will make startup truly fast.
An SSD upgrade:
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Cuts boot time dramatically
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Makes Windows feel smoother overall
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Is affordable in the US market
This is the single best upgrade for older laptops.
Useful Built-In Tools (No Sketchy Cleaners)
You don’t need “PC booster” software.
Stick to:
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Task Manager (startup control)
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Storage Sense
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Windows Security
Third-party “speed up” apps often do more harm than good.
Common Questions
Is slow startup normal on Windows 11?
It’s common, but not unavoidable.
Will more RAM fix startup speed?
Not much. Storage type matters more.
How fast should Windows 11 boot?
On an SSD: usually under 30 seconds.
Should I reset Windows?
Only if nothing else works.
Final Thoughts
Windows 11 slow startup is annoying, but in most cases it’s fixable without spending money. Disabling startup apps, turning off Fast Startup, and keeping drivers updated can make a real difference.
If you’re still waiting too long after trying everything, upgrading to an SSD is worth it.
Save this page—you’ll probably need it again someday.
