How to Fix Slow Startup Windows: 10 Easy Fixes That Work (2026)

You press the power button, and then you wait. The logo appears, the dots spin, and the minutes pass. A slow startup wastes your time every day. It can also make you fear your PC is dying. The good news is that most cases are fixable. This guide shows you how to fix slow startup Windows problems on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Most slow startups have the same few causes. These include too many startup apps, a full or old drive, and damaged system files. However, many people try random tweaks and never check if anything worked. That is the biggest mistake. So this guide starts with a simple test. First, you measure your boot time. Then you try one fix at a time and measure again.

Quick Answer: How Do You Fix Slow Startup on Windows?

To fix slow startup on Windows, turn off high-impact startup apps in Task Manager. Then update Windows and drivers, free up disk space, and scan for malware. If the PC is still slow, repair system files, run a clean boot, or switch from an HDD to an SSD. Check your boot time first so you can see what worked.

Quick steps:

1. Check your boot time in Event Viewer (Event ID 100).
2. Disable high-impact startup apps in Task Manager.
3. Update Windows and your drivers.
4. Keep 10 to 20 percent of your drive free.
5. Run a full malware scan.
6. Repair system files with DISM and SFC.
7. Run a clean boot to find the app causing the delay.
8. Upgrade to an SSD or add RAM if your PC uses an HDD.

This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

What Causes Slow Startup on Windows?

Windows starts slowly when too many tasks run before the desktop is ready.

The most common causes are:

• Too many startup apps
• An old hard drive (HDD) or a nearly full drive
• Outdated drivers or missing updates
• Damaged system files
• Malware or heavy background services
• Odd BIOS or UEFI settings

Slow before the login screen and slow after it have different causes. The table in the next sections helps you tell them apart.

How Do I Check My Startup Time First?

Measure first. Otherwise, you cannot tell which fix worked.

1. Type Event Viewer in the Start menu and open it.
2. Go to Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > Diagnostics-Performance > Operational.
3. Find an event with Event ID 100.
4. Read the Boot Duration. It shows in milliseconds. So 63,448 ms equals about 63 seconds.

Next, open the Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Go to the Startup tab. The Last BIOS time shows how long your PC spent before Windows began to load. Write both numbers down. Then test again after each fix.

Is Your PC Slow Before or After Login?

Different symptoms point to different causes. Use this table to pick the right fix.

What you see	Likely cause	Try this
Long wait on the logo screen	BIOS settings, external drives	Fix 8
Spinning dots for a long time	Drivers, damaged files, slow drive	Fix 3, 6, 9
Black screen before login	Driver, update, or system error	Black screen section
Fast login, but slow desktop	Too many startup apps	Fix 1, 7
Slow after a recent update	Update or driver problem	Fix 3

How to Fix Slow Startup Windows: 10 Proven Fixes

Start with Fix 1. The first four fixes are easy and fix most PCs. The later ones need more time.

Fix 1: Turn Off Startup Apps You Don’t Need

Startup apps are the most common cause of a slow boot. Each one adds work before your desktop is ready.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Open Startup apps (the Startup tab on Windows 10).
3. Sort by Startup impact.
4. Right click a high impact app you don’t need. Choose Disable.

Disabling does not uninstall the app. Good ones to disable are chat apps, game launchers, and updaters. However, keep your antivirus and your touchpad or audio tools.

Fix 2: Check the Fast Startup Setting

Fast Startup saves part of Windows to disk when you shut down. This makes the next boot quicker. It does not work with Restart, only with a full shutdown.

1. Open Control Panel > Power Options.
2. Click Choose what the power buttons do.
3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
4. Tick Turn on fast startup.

If the option is missing, hibernation may be off. Open Command Prompt as admin and run powercfg /hibernate on. Then check again. Fast Startup helps many PCs, but not all. So test it on and off, and compare your Event ID 100 time.

Fix 3: Update Windows and Drivers

Old drivers and missing patches can slow down boot. Because of this, update both.

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. Check Advanced options > Optional updates for driver updates.

For graphics, chipset, and storage drivers, use your PC maker’s website. If the slowness began after an update, roll back the driver. Open Device Manager, right-click the device, and choose Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver. Also note that Windows 10 support ended in October 2025. So plan your move to Windows 11, or check the extended update options.

Fix 4: Free Up Disk Space

Windows needs free space for temporary files and virtual memory. A nearly full drive slows everything. As a rule, keep 10 to 20 percent of the drive free.

1. Open Settings > System > Storage.
2. Click Temporary files and remove what you don’t need.
3. Uninstall apps you no longer use.
4. Move large photos and videos to an external drive or the cloud.

Fix 5: Scan for Malware

Malware can add hidden programs to startup. Therefore, run a full scan.

1. Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
2. Click Scan options.
3. Choose Full scan and click Scan now.

Do not install random “PC booster” apps. Many of them add to the problem.

Fix 6: Repair System Files with DISM and SFC

Damaged system files can delay startup. Run these two commands in order.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Run DISM /Online /Cleanup Image /Restore Health.
3. Then run sfc /scannow.
4. Restart when both finish.

This can take 20 minutes or more. Don’t close the window while it runs.

Fix 7: Run a Clean Boot to Find the Culprit

A clean boot starts Windows with only basic services. It shows if a third-party app causes the delay.

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
2. On the Services tab, tick Hide all Microsoft services. Then click Disable all.
3. On the Startup tab, click Open Task Manager and disable the startup items.
4. Restart and check your boot time.

If it is faster, turn items back on in small groups. Restart after each group. The slowdown returns when you enable the culprit. When you finish, set Normal startup again. Note that a clean boot can switch off security or VPN services for a short time.

Fix 8: Check BIOS or UEFI Settings

If your Last BIOS time is high, the delay happens before Windows loads. So check these settings.

• Put your Windows drive first in the boot order.
• Turn on Fast Boot if your PC has it.
• Unplug unused USB and external drives.
• On a dual boot PC, cut the boot menu timeout to 5 to 10 seconds.

The BIOS key is often Del, F2, or F10. It depends on your PC maker. Change one setting at a time.

Fix 9: Upgrade to an SSD or Add RAM

Hardware is sometimes the real problem. Open Task Manager and go to Performance > Disk. It shows if you have an HDD or an SSD. If it says HDD and active time often hits 90 to 100 percent, an SSD is your best upgrade. It often cuts boot time by a large amount.

Also, if your PC has 4 GB of RAM, move up to 8 GB or more. Back up your files before any hardware change.

Fix 10: Repair or Reset Windows

Use this as the last step. Go from the mildest option to the strongest one.

1. Repair install: Open Settings > System > Recovery and look for the Reinstall now option. It keeps your files and apps.
2. Reset this PC: Choose Keep my files.
3. Clean install: Use this only if the others fail.

Always back up first. Menu names can differ on your version.

Why Is My PC Stuck on a Black Screen or “Please Wait”?

Sometimes Windows hangs before the desktop appears. First, wait a few minutes. Then unplug USB devices and disconnect from the internet. If nothing changes, hold the power button to force a shutdown. Repeat this three times.

Windows then opens the recovery menu. Choose Advanced options and try Startup Repair or Safe Mode. If Safe Mode works, a driver or startup app is the likely cause. Then use Fix 3 and Fix 7. Use forced shutdowns only when the PC is truly stuck.

Which Fix Works Best?

This table helps you plan your time. The impact column is a general estimate, so your results may differ.

Fix	Difficulty	Time	Typical impact
1. Startup apps	Easy	5 min	High
2. Fast Startup	Easy	5 min	Medium
3. Updates and drivers	Easy	15 to 30 min	Medium
4. Disk space	Easy	10 min	Medium
5. Malware scan	Easy	20 to 60 min	High if infected
6. DISM and SFC	Medium	20 to 40 min	Low to medium
7. Clean boot	Medium	30 min	High if a culprit exists
8. BIOS settings	Medium	10 min	Medium
9. SSD or RAM	Hard	1 to 2 hours	Very high on HDD PCs
10. Repair or reset	Hard	1 to 3 hours	High

FAQs About How to Fix Slow Startup Windows

Conclusion

Slow startup rarely has one cause. In most cases, a few small problems add up. The pattern is clear. Measure your boot time, remove startup apps, and check your drive type. Those steps solve most cases before you need harder fixes. Then work from easy to hard, and test after each change. This way you know what helped and you avoid risky tweaks. If you only do one thing, run the Event ID 100 check before and after. It turns guessing into proof. Now you know how to fix slow startup Windows step by step. Check your startup apps every month, and your PC should stay quick for a long time.

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