Is your Windows 11 slow to start? A slow boot time can waste minutes and kill productivity. Many users experience this issue due to too many startup programs, outdated drivers, or system misconfigurations. In this guide we’ll cover the best ways to fix slow Windows 11 startup and get you back to speed.

Common Causes of Slow Windows 11 Startup

Before we get to the fixes, let’s look at some of the common causes of Windows 11 slow to start:

• Too Many Startup Programs – Unnecessary apps launching at startup can slow you down.
• Outdated Drivers – Old or incompatible drivers can affect performance.
• Fast Startup Feature Issues – Though designed to speed up boot time, it can sometimes cause delays.
• Corrupted System Files – Damage to system files can result in slower performance.
• Fragmented Hard Drive – HDDs in particular suffer from fragmentation which affects speed.
• Low Hardware Resources – Limited RAM or an aging processor can struggle with Windows 11.
• Malware or Viruses – Malicious software can slow down your system performance.
• Overloaded Temporary Files – Accumulated temporary files can cause startup delays.

How to Fix Slow Windows 11 Startup

Below are the best solutions to fix slow startup in Windows 11.

1. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

Too many startup applications slow down boot times. How to manage them:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click on the Startup tab.
3. Look for unnecessary programs, right-click and select Disable.
4. Restart your PC to apply changes.

Disabling unnecessary startup apps will free up system resources and you’ll start faster.

More details: Microsoft Support – Startup Apps

2. Update Windows and Drivers

Outdated system files and drivers can cause performance issues. How to update them:

1. Open Settings using Windows + I.
2. Go to Windows Update > Check for updates.
3. Install all available updates and restart your PC.

For driver updates:

1. Open Device Manager (Windows + X > Device Manager).
2. Right-click on any device and select Update driver.
3. Choose Search automatically for drivers.

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3. Turn Off Fast Startup

Fast Startup can sometimes do more harm than good. To disable:

1. Open Control Panel and go to Power Options.
2. Click Choose what the power buttons do.
3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
4. Uncheck Turn on fast startup.
5. Click Save changes and restart.

4. Check for Corrupted System Files

System file corruption can slow down startup times. Run system file check:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (Search “cmd” > Run as administrator).
2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. Wait for the scan to complete and restart your PC.

5. Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot can help you find out if third-party apps are causing slow startups.

1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
2. In the General tab, select Selective Startup.
3. Uncheck Load startup items.
4. Go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
5. Click Apply, then OK, and restart your PC.

6. Upgrade Hardware (SSD and RAM)

If your computer still takes long to boot, consider upgrading:

• SSD – SSD is way faster than HDD and boots way faster.
• RAM – If you have low RAM, upgrading it can improve Windows performance.

7. Scan for Malware

Malware can consume system resources and slow down your PC. To scan for malware:

1. Open Windows Security (Windows + I > Privacy & security > Windows Security).
2. Click Virus & threat protection > Quick scan.
3. If malware is detected, follow on-screen instructions to remove it.

8. Delete Temporary Files

Accumulated temp files can slow down Windows startup. To remove:

1. Press Windows + R, type temp, and press Enter.
2. Delete all files in the folder.
3. Repeat the process with %temp% and prefetch.

9. Disable Background Apps

Many background apps run unnecessarily and slow down your PC. To disable:

1. Open Settings (Windows + I).
2. Go to Apps > Apps & features 3. Click on Background apps and disable unwanted apps.

10. Optimize Virtual Memory

Virtual memory is like additional RAM and optimizing it can:

1. Open Settings (Windows + I).
2. Go to System > Advanced system settings.
3. Under Performance, click Settings.
4. Go to the Advanced tab and click Change under Virtual Memory.
5. Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size, select Custom size and enter recommended values.
6. Click Set and restart.

Conclusion

A slow Windows 11 startup is annoying, but with these steps you can optimize performance. Disabling startup programs, updating drivers, turning off fast startup, checking for system file errors, cleaning temp files and upgrading hardware can really improve boot time. Do regular maintenance and security scan to keep your PC running smoothly.

visit TechRadar – Windows 11 Tips.