How to Fix Windows 11 Slow Startup? 10 Methods to Make Boot Faster

Why Does Windows 11 Start Up Slowly?

Nowadays, many users have already upgraded to Windows 11. However, some users have found that Windows 11 startup slow, sometimes taking several minutes. This is very frustrating.

Here is a true example from the learn.microsoft forum:

Slow Boot Time - Windows 11. I bought a new MSI PRO DP180 desktop computer about 2 weeks ago, running Windows 11 Home Version 24H2, OS build 26100.4770. For the first few days, the boot time was about 1 minute, then it suddenly increased to over 7 minutes.https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5517403/slow-boot-time-windows-11

Why is Windows 11 slow to start up? Here are some possible reasons:

• Too many startup programs: One of the main reasons for slow startup is the excessive number of applications that Windows automatically launches. Each program competes for system resources (CPU and memory), significantly delaying desktop startup time.
• Insufficient memory: Windows 11 has more background processes and visual effects than Windows 10. If your computer has limited memory (4GB or less), the system will have to rely more on virtual memory on the disk, slowing down performance.
• Insufficient disk space: Windows 11 requires enough free space to perform critical functions. If there’s not enough space, Windows 11 has a slow startup.
• Outdated drivers: Outdated drivers, especially those for storage or graphics hardware, can cause delays during the startup phase.
• Hardware bottlenecks: Running Windows 11 on a traditional mechanical hard drive can create a significant performance bottleneck. SSDs offer much faster data transfer speeds, reducing startup time from minutes to seconds.
• Enhanced security features: Features like Core Isolation in Windows 11 use virtualization to enhance security, which may incur a slight performance overhead on some older or mid-range systems.

Are you bothered by this problem? If so, try the following effective methods to resolve the PC slow startup Windows 11 problem.

Method 1. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

Many programs automatically run at startup, consuming resources and slowing the boot process. So, disabling unnecessary startup programs can release some resources.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Startup tab. Here, you’ll see every app set to launch at boot, with a “Startup impact” label (High/Medium/Low/None) that tells you how much it slows down startup.
3. Right-click any app with High/Medium impact and select Disable.

Method 2. Turn off Fast Startup

Fast Startup is designed to speed up boot time by combining features of shutdown and hibernation. However, it can sometimes cause problems with certain hardware configurations, resulting in slower boot times.

Disabling Fast Startup can resolve these conflicts and improve boot speed. The steps are as follows:

1. Search for Control Panel in the Windows Search bar and open it.
2. Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
3. In the left-hand panel, click What do the power buttons do.
4. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
5. Uncheck the Turn on fast startup (recommended) checkbox.
6. Click Save changes.

Method 3. Update Windows and Drivers

Windows Update optimizes performance and fixes known bugs, which can directly improve boot times. Updating drivers ensures that their components are fully compatible with and optimized for the latest version of Windows 11.

So, it’s recommended that you update Windows and drivers to improve Windows 11 startup speed.

Step 1. Update Windows.

1. Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.
2. Click Windows Update in the left-hand menu.
3. Click Check for updates and install any available updates.

Sep 2. Update device drivers.

1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
2. Expand categories (like Display adapters, Disk drives) to find the hardware you want to update.
3. Right-click the device and choose Update driver, then select Search automatically for drivers.

Method 4. Disable Visual Effects

Windows 11’s visual effects consume significant system resources. Disabling or reducing these effects can decrease CPU and memory load, thus shortening startup time.

1. Open Settings, then go to System.
2. Click About, then click Advanced system settings.
3. In the System Properties window, go to the Advanced tab, then click Settings under the Performance section.
4. Select Adjust for best performance to turn off everything, or choose Custom and uncheck specific visual effects.
5. Click Apply > OK.

Method 5. Free up Disk Space

If your C drive is running out of space, the system will slow down file read speeds during startup.

To resolve this issue, it’s generally recommended to keep at least 15% to 20% of your system drive free.

To do that, you have two options:

• Delete temporary files to free up disk space.
• Extend the C partition to increase its space.

Option 1. Delete Temporary Files

These temporary files include app and internet temp files, old versions of Windows updates, Downloads, Recycle Bin Thumbnails, DirectX Shader Cache, etc.

To clear temporary files in Windows Settings, the steps are as follows:

1. Go to Settings > System > Storage.
2. In the right panel of Storage, click the Temporary files category.
3. Check boxes to select files to remove, like the Recycle Bin and Downloads.
4. Click Remove files.

Option 2. Extend the C Partition

To extend the C partition, you can take free space from any other existing partitions or unallocated space. Then, MiniTool Partition Wizard’s Extend Partition feature can help you do that.

The steps are as follows:

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

1. On its main interface, highlight the C partition and select Extend Partition from the left action panel.
2. In the pop-up window, choose a partition or unallocated space from the drop-down list of Take Free Space from. Then drag the blue block to decide how much space to occupy. After that, click OK.
3. Click Apply to perform the pending operation.
4. Select Restart Now to allow the computer to restart. When your computer successfully restarts, you will find that the C drive has been extended.

Method 6. Check for Malware

Viruses and malware can significantly slow down your PC’s startup and general performance. Here are the steps to use the built-in Windows Security tool for a full scan.

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security.
2. Click Virus & threat protection from the right side.
3. Click Scan options, select Full scan, and then click Scan now.

Method 7. Turn off Memory Integrity

Core Isolation uses virtualization technology to enhance security. In some cases, it can impact performance. You can try disabling this feature to see if it resolves the Windows 11 slow boot.

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security Center > Device Security.
2. Click Core Isolation details.
3. If the Memory Integrity switch is on, turn it Off.
4. Restart your computer and check if the problem persists.

Method 8. Check for System Files

Corrupted system files can impact computer performance and slow down boot speed. So, running DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) and SFC (System File Checker) can check and repair system files. The steps are as follows:

1. Type cmd in the search bar, right-click Command Prompt, and then select Run as administrator.
2. Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. This command will scan and repair corrupted Windows system components by replacing them with healthy ones.
3. After the DISM process finishes, type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This command will scan all protected system files and automatically repair any corrupted ones.

Method 9. Upgrade to an SSD

If your system is still a traditional HDD, upgrading to an SSD will provide a significant boost to boot times and overall system responsiveness.

To upgrade to an SSD without reinstalling everything from scratch, you need to use MiniTool Partition Wizard. Its Migrate OS to SSD/HD feature can help you migrate the OS and other data to the SSD.

The steps are as follows:

MiniTool Partition Wizard DemoClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1. Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard and start the OS migration.

1. Connect the SSD to your computer with an NVMe/SATA to USB adapter.
2. Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard to its main interface.
3. Select the Migrate OS to SSD/HD Wizard feature from the left action panel.

Step 2. Choose the migration method, and then click Next.

• Choose Option A to transfer all the data to the SSD.
• Choose Option B to migrate the operating system only.

Step 3. Set the copy options.

1. Select the SSD as the target disk and then click Next.
2. Review the copy options and disk layout. Keeping the default option is recommended. Then, click Next.
3. Click Finish.
4. Click Apply to execute the operation.

Step 4. Make the computer boot from the SSD.

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Method 10. Increase RAM

If your PC has less than 4GB of RAM (8GB is recommended for modern Windows 11 performance), adding more memory can improve overall speed and boot times.

To check RAM usage, open Task Manager, go to the Performance tab, and click Memory. Here, you can see the RAM information, including the total and used memory.

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Windows 11 Slow Startup FAQ

Bottom Line

Windows 11 slow startup is an annoying problem. You can follow the step-by-step approaches in this guide to resolve it.

If you have any questions or suggestions on how to use MiniTool Partition Wizard, do not hesitate to contact us via [email protected].