Windows 11 Slow Startup? Here’s How to Speed It Up

A Windows 11 PC that takes minutes to start, freezes after login, or lags during startup is often slowed down by startup apps, outdated drivers, corrupted system files, an HDD, and more.

If Windows 11 starts slowly, try these fixes first:

1. Disable unnecessary startup apps.
2. Update Windows and device drivers.
3. Free up at least 20% of your C drive.
4. Scan for malware.
5. Repair system files with SFC and DISM.
6. Reduce visual effects.
7. Add more RAM if you have less than 8 GB.
8. Upgrade from HDD to SSD.
9. Teak BIOS settings.

Why Is Windows 11 Slow to Start?

Below are the most common reasons Windows 11 starts slowly. You can often narrow down the cause based on when the slowdown occurs.

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How to Fix Slow Startup Windows 11

Once you identify the most likely cause, you can apply the appropriate solution below to improve Windows 11 startup speed.

Method 1. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

If your Windows 11 startup freezes, it’s often caused by Fast Startup conflicting with certain drivers or system processes. Disabling Fast Startup can resolve the issue.

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. Update Windows and Drivers

Running an outdated Windows 11 system or graphics driver can cause slow startup and performance issues. Keeping Windows updated and updating your graphics driver can fix these issues.

Here’s how.

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 3. Free up Space on Your C Drive

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

Temporary files in Windows 11 can pile up over time, causing a slow startup. Removing these files can speed up your PC.

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 4. Check for Malware

Malware and viruses can infect your Windows 11 system via online downloads or data transfers.

These infections can corrupt files and cause slow boot times in windows 10/11.

To protect your PC, regularly scan for threats using Windows Defender or a trusted antivirus program. Follow these steps:

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 5. Repair System Files with DISM and SFC

When system files are corrupted, your PC may experience slow boot times and reduced performance. Using DISM and SFC helps detect and fix these issues. Here’s how to do it:

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 6. 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 7. 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.

Method 8. Upgrade from HDD to SSD

If your system is running on an HDD, upgrade to an SSD. This upgrade can dramatically speed up startup and make your PC more responsive.

To upgrade to an SSD without reinstalling everything from scratch, you can use MiniTool Partition Wizard.

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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.

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 9. Tweak BIOS Settings

The key BIOS settings that change startup time include Fast Boot, Memory Context Restore, and UEFI vs. CSM mode. To speed up Windows 11 startup, you need to do the following in BIOS.

• Turn on Fast Boot: Go to the Boot or Startup tab and find the Fast Boot option. Then, set this option to Enabled or Enabled / Ultra Fast.
• Enable Memory Context Restore: Go to the Advanced, Ai Tweaker, or OC tab. Find sub-menus like DRAM Configuration, AMD CBS, or DRAM Timing Control. Look for Memory Context Restore to enable.
• Disable CSM: Go to the Boot tab. Find CSM or CSM Support to disable.

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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].