(Best Solutions) How to Fix Slow Windows 10 Startup?

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A slow Windows 10 startup is a common problem faced by many users. It can be frustrating, especially when you’re in a hurry and your system takes forever to load. The good news is that there are many effective ways to significantly speed up Windows 10 boot time. This article will walk you through the best solutions — from simple tweaks to advanced optimizations — so you can get your PC running fast and smooth.

1. Why Windows 10 Startup Can Be Slow

Before we fix the issue, it’s useful to know why Windows 10 starts slowly in the first place. Some common reasons include:

  • Too many startup programs launching together

  • Fragmented or nearly full hard drive

  • Malware or unwanted software

  • Outdated device drivers

  • System file corruption

  • Wrong BIOS settings

  • Hardware limitations (e.g., old HDD instead of SSD)

Understanding the cause helps you choose the right solution.

2. Check Your Startup Time

Before optimizing, check how slow your startup is:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

  2. Go to the Startup tab.

  3. Look at the Startup impact column.

This shows you which programs are slowing down startup. High-impact apps take longer to load.

3. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

Apps that launch automatically when Windows boots can slow things down. Disabling unwanted startup items is one of the most effective and easiest fixes.

How to Disable Startup Programs

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

  2. Click the Startup tab.

  3. Right-click programs you don’t need at startup and choose Disable.

Examples of safe programs to disable:

  • Spotify

  • Skype

  • Adobe Updater

  • Game launchers (Steam, Epic Games, etc.)

Tip: Only disable apps you recognize. Never disable system drivers or security software.

4. Enable Fast Startup

Windows 10 includes a feature called Fast Startup, which helps your system boot faster.

How to Enable Fast Startup

  1. Press Windows + R, type: control and press Enter.

  2. Go to Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.

  3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.

  4. Check Turn on fast startup.

  5. Click Save changes.

Fast Startup works by saving system information to a file before shutdown — like a partial hibernation.

5. Update Windows Regularly

Microsoft often releases updates that include performance improvements.

How to Update Windows 10

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

  2. Click Update & Security.

  3. Click Windows Update and Check for updates.

Install any available updates and restart your PC.

6. Update Device Drivers

Outdated drivers can slow down boot time. Especially graphics and storage drivers.

Update Drivers Manually

  1. Press Windows + X and choose Device Manager.

  2. Expand devices like Display adapters and Storage controllers.

  3. Right-click and choose Update driver.

Alternatively, use trusted driver tools from manufacturers (Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, etc.).

7. Scan for Malware and Viruses

Malware can severely slow down your system.

How to Scan for Malware

  • Use Windows Security (built-in antivirus)

    1. Press Windows + I > Update & Security > Windows Security.

    2. Click Virus & threat protection.

    3. Choose Quick scan or Full scan.

Better to do a full scan if your startup feels unusually slow.

8. Clean Up the Hard Drive

A fragmented or full disk slows both startup and performance.

Free Up Space

  1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

  2. Right-click the C: drive and choose Properties.

  3. Click Disk Cleanup.

  4. Select files to remove (Temporary files, Recycle Bin, etc.) and click OK.

Disk Cleanup and Storage Sense

Enable Storage Sense to automatically clear space:

  1. Settings > System > Storage.

  2. Turn on Storage Sense.

9. Defragment Your Hard Drive (HDD Only)

If your system uses a traditional Hard Disk Drive (HDD), defragmentation can help.

Defragment HDD

  1. Press Windows + R, type dfrgui, press Enter.

  2. Choose your system drive (usually C:).

  3. Click Optimize.

Note: Do NOT defragment SSDs. They don’t need it and it can reduce lifespan.

10. Adjust Visual Effects for Best Performance

Windows animations and effects can slow down startup, especially on older PCs.

How to Adjust for Performance

  1. Press Windows + R, type: sysdm.cpl, press Enter.

  2. Go to Advanced tab.

  3. Under Performance, click Settings.

  4. Choose Adjust for best performance.

  5. Click Apply then OK.

This reduces fancy effects but improves speed.

11. Turn Off Unnecessary Services

Some background services may not be needed.

How to Manage Services

  1. Press Windows + R, type: services.msc, press Enter.

  2. Look through the list and stop services you don’t need.

Be careful: Only disable services you understand. If unsure, research before turning off.

12. Adjust Power Options for Speed

Windows power plans affect performance.

Switch to High Performance

  1. Press Windows + R, type: powercfg.cpl, press Enter.

  2. Choose High performance plan.

This ensures your CPU and hardware run at full power instead of saving energy.

13. Check for System File Corruption

Windows system files can become corrupted and slow things down.

Run System File Checker (SFC)

  1. Press Windows + X, choose Windows PowerShell (Admin).

  2. Type:

    sfc /scannow

  3. Press Enter.

Windows will scan and repair corrupted system files.

14. Check the Disk for Errors

Errors on the disk can cause slow boot times.

Run CHKDSK

  1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).

  2. Type:

    chkdsk C: /f /r

  3. Press Enter.

  4. Confirm by typing Y, then restart.

This checks and repairs disk errors.

15. Disable Windows Tips and Notifications

Windows tries to help by showing tips — but this can slow performance.

Turn Them Off

  1. Go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions.

  2. Turn off Get tips, tricks, and suggestions…

16. Reduce Login Delay

Sometimes Windows waits before showing the login screen.

Enable Automatic Login (Optional)

  1. Press Windows + R, type: netplwiz, press Enter.

  2. Uncheck Users must enter a username and password…

  3. Click Apply and enter your password.

Warning: This removes password prompt — only do this if your PC is secure and private.

17. Optimize BIOS/UEFI Settings

BIOS/UEFI can affect boot times.

Fast Boot Option

  1. Restart and enter BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing F2, Del, Esc etc.).

  2. Enable Fast Boot or Quick Boot.

  3. Save and exit.

This skips certain hardware checks to boot faster.

18. Upgrade to an SSD (Best Hardware Boost)

One of the biggest improvements you can make is switching from a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) to an SSD (Solid State Drive).

Why SSD Helps Startup

SSD loads data much faster. Instead of waiting minutes for Windows to load, it can boot in seconds.

How to Upgrade

  • Buy a SATA or NVMe SSD.

  • Clone your existing drive or do a fresh Windows install.

  • Move Windows to SSD and set it as the boot drive.

This alone can transform startup speed.

19. Increase System RAM

If your PC has low RAM (like 4GB), Startup and overall performance will suffer.

Add More RAM

More RAM helps Windows run programs faster and reduces delay at startup.

  • 8GB is good for general use

  • 16GB+ is ideal for power users

20. Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot starts Windows with minimal drivers and startup programs.

How to Clean Boot

  1. Press Windows + R: type msconfig, press Enter.

  2. Go to Services tab.

  3. Check Hide all Microsoft services.

  4. Click Disable all.

  5. Go to Startup tab > Open Task Manager.

  6. Disable all startup items.

  7. Restart PC.

If startup is faster after this, one of the disabled programs was the culprit.

21. Reset or Reinstall Windows

If nothing helps, a Windows reset or clean install can fix deep issues.

Reset This PC

  1. Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.

  2. Under Reset this PC, click Get started.

  3. Choose Keep my files or Remove everything.

This reinstalls Windows and removes corruption or bloat.

22. Regular Maintenance Habits

Keeping your system well-maintained prevents slow startup:

  • Update Windows and drivers regularly

  • Check for malware monthly

  • Remove unused programs

  • Clean disk and temporary files

  • Avoid installing too many startup apps

23. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are things that might seem helpful but can hurt performance:

  • Installing random “PC optimizer” software

  • Disabling critical system services

  • Defragmenting SSDs

  • Ignoring updates

Stick to trusted methods.

24. When to Seek Professional Help

If your PC still boots slowly after all steps:

  • You may have failing hardware (drive or RAM)

  • There could be advanced malware

  • BIOS or firmware may need update

A professional technician can diagnose deeper causes.

25. Final Thoughts

Slow Windows 10 startup is common, but fixable. Most users see noticeable improvement by:

✅ Disabling startup programs
✅ Enabling Fast Startup
✅ Cleaning disk and updating Windows
✅ Scanning for malware
✅ Upgrading to SSD

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