Laptop Slow After Windows Update: Causes & Fixes

If your laptop is running slow after a Windows update, you’re definitely not alone. Lots of people deal with this. Suddenly your computer takes ages to boot up, apps open slowly, and everything just feels sluggish.

So what’s happening? Most of the time, it’s just your system adjusting. Windows updates modify a bunch of system files and start up background tasks—things like re-indexing files, tweaking performance settings, or updating drivers. All that uses processing power, so your laptop slows down temporarily. Usually, after a few days, things speed up again.

But sometimes, it’s not just a short-term slowdown. Updates can install drivers that aren’t fully compatible with your hardware, especially if your laptop is a few years old. Old or mismatched drivers can hurt performance. If your storage is nearly full, that’s another big problem—Windows needs free space to run smoothly.

There’s something else, too: after an update, you might see more programs starting up automatically. These can use memory and CPU before you’ve even opened your first app.

The upside? Most of these problems can be fixed. Stick with me and I’ll explain what causes these slowdowns and how you can make your laptop faster again.

Quick checks before you get started

Before you jump into complicated solutions, try a couple of easy checks first. These might lighten the load on your system and help you figure out if the slowdown is just temporary.

Start by waiting a little after finishing the update. Windows tends to run a lot of background tasks—things like file optimization and indexing—right after an update. This can take a few hours, and things may feel slow while it’s happening.

Restart your laptop, maybe even twice. A restart finishes up any leftover update tasks and clears out those small system glitches that build up. Also, check if Windows is still updating. Go to Settings, then Windows Update, and see if it’s still working.

Don’t forget to plug in your laptop. When running on battery, Windows lowers performance to save energy, so everything can feel slower.

A lot of people get frustrated and try to fix problems right away, but sometimes, you just need to let Windows finish what it’s doing.

Fix 1: Restart and let Windows complete its updates

Honestly, one of the best things you can do is let Windows finish the update process. Even after updates install, Windows keeps working in the background—indexing, optimizing, and more.

Restart your laptop and leave it alone for a bit. Try not to open any heavy apps during this time. This gives Windows a chance to finish update tasks without interruption.

If things are still slow after a few hours, open Task Manager and see if something is using a lot of CPU or disk.

Fix 2: Disable heavy startup apps

Startup apps can be sneaky. After an update, some of them get turned back on and start running in the background, slowing things down.

Open Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, and turn off anything you don’t need right away—especially those marked as “high impact.” Reducing startup programs frees up resources and makes booting faster.

You might be surprised how many apps end up in startup after an update. Most people are.

Fix 3: Check storage and system files

Running out of storage space can seriously slow down your laptop, especially after a Windows update. Windows needs enough free space to manage updates, background processes, and its system files.

Here’s how to check: go to Settings, then System, and then Storage. If your main drive is nearly full, delete files you don’t need or move large ones to an external drive. You can also use Disk Cleanup to remove temporary files left over from updates.

It’s not always just about space, though. Corrupted system files can also cause slowdowns. To check for this, open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the system file checker.

Clearing up storage space usually gives your laptop a noticeable speed boost.

Extra tips to speed things up after updates

Keep your drivers up to date, especially your graphics and chipset drivers. Updated drivers help Windows work better with your hardware and can really improve performance.

If your laptop isn’t very powerful, try turning off some visual effects. You can change these settings under performance options in Windows. Also, avoid running too many programs at once — this is even more important on older laptops.

A clean and organized system will run better, especially after updates.

FAQ: Laptop Running Slow After Windows Update

Is it normal for laptops to slow down after a Windows update?

Yes, it’s common. Windows often runs background tasks after updates, which can make your laptop feel sluggish.

How long does it take for things to get back to normal?

Usually, your laptop will start running better within a few hours or days.

Should I uninstall the update if my laptop is slow?

Don’t uninstall the update right away. Only consider it if the slowdown is severe and you’re sure the update is the cause.