â All troubleshooting guides
How to Fix a Slow or Freezing Windows PC
Does the issue happen mostly in one program?
Find the answer that best matches your situation, then try the steps in order. You can also use the interactive troubleshooting assistant.
Yes
- Save your work, close the program, and reopen it.
- Check for an update to that program.
- If it persists, use the program's official support steps; avoid random 'PC cleaner' downloads.
No, throughout Windows
- Restart the PC and install pending Windows updates.
- Open Task Manager to see if a program is using unusually high CPU or memory.
- Make sure your drive has free space and run Windows Security's built-in scan.
Not sure
- Note when the slowdown happens and which programs are open.
- Restart the PC, then try one program at a time to narrow it down.
If a step doesn't apply to your device, skip it. For account recovery, use only official websites and apps.