Windows 11 Slow to Start? 9 Practical Fixes for Faster Boot Times

A slow startup is one of the most common Windows complaints. Sometimes the cause is obvious – a laptop with an old mechanical hard drive – but more often it is a pile-up of small things: too many apps launching at sign-in, an outdated driver, or a pending update that keeps trying to install. This guide works from the quickest, safest fixes towards the more involved ones.

Before you start, it helps to know when the delay happens. Is it the time before you see the sign-in screen, or the time after you sign in until the desktop becomes usable? Delays before sign-in point to firmware, drivers, updates or hardware. Delays after sign-in usually point to startup apps.

1. Restart properly (not just shut down)

With Fast Startup enabled (the default on most PCs), choosing Shut down saves part of the system state to disk rather than starting completely fresh next time. That's normally a good thing, but it means a problem in memory can carry over. Choosing Restart performs a full, clean start. If your PC has been slow for days, restart it once and see whether the problem disappears.

2. Reduce startup apps

Every app that launches when you sign in competes for processor time and disk access.

1. Open Settings › Apps › Startup.
2. Review the list. Each app shows an impact rating (High, Medium, Low or No impact).
3. Turn off anything you don’t need immediately after signing in – chat apps, game launchers, updaters for printers or cameras, and cloud tools you rarely use are common candidates.

You can see the same list with more detail in Task Manager (press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, then choose Startup apps). Task Manager also shows a Last BIOS time figure at the top – the time your firmware took before handing over to Windows. A very high number points to firmware settings or hardware rather than Windows itself.

Keep your antivirus and anything your employer installed enabled. If the PC is managed by an organisation, check with your IT team before changing startup items.

3. Install pending updates and restart

An update that downloaded but hasn’t finished installing can slow every boot as Windows tries to complete it. Go to Settings › Windows Update, install anything available, and restart. If updates fail repeatedly, follow our guide to fixing Windows Update when it's stuck.

4. Update drivers and firmware

Storage, chipset and graphics drivers have a big effect on startup. Check Windows Update › Advanced options › Optional updates for driver updates, and visit your PC or motherboard manufacturer’s support page for the latest chipset drivers and BIOS/UEFI firmware. Many manufacturers offer an update utility that does this automatically.

Firmware updates are generally safe when you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but never interrupt one – keep laptops plugged in and don’t power off until it finishes.

5. Check for malware

Malware often runs at startup and slows the whole system. Open Windows Security › Virus & threat protection and run a Quick scan. If you suspect a problem, choose Scan options › Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan), which restarts the PC and scans before Windows fully loads – useful for threats that hide while Windows is running.

6. Check your storage drive

The single biggest factor in boot time is your storage.

• Open Task Manager › Performance and select your disk. If it shows HDD (or the drive type is listed as a hard disk drive in Settings › System › Storage › Advanced storage settings › Disks & volumes), upgrading to an SSD will typically make the biggest difference of anything in this list. See SSD vs HDD and our laptop SSD upgrade guide.
• Make sure the system drive isn’t almost full. Windows needs free space for updates, temporary files and virtual memory. Aim to keep at least 10–15% free. Settings › System › Storage shows what’s using space, and Storage Sense can clear temporary files automatically.

7. Repair system files

If boot is slow and you see other odd behaviour – error messages, settings that won’t open, crashes – corrupted system files may be involved. Our guide to repairing Windows with SFC and DISM walks through the built-in repair tools.

8. Review firmware boot settings

A few settings in your PC’s UEFI/BIOS can add seconds to every boot: network (PXE) booting placed before the internal drive, a long boot-menu delay, or USB devices checked first. If you’re comfortable entering the firmware setup (often via a key such as F2, Del or F10 at power-on, or from Settings › System › Recovery › Advanced startup), make sure the Windows drive is first in the boot order. If you’re unsure, leave these settings alone – incorrect changes can stop the PC from booting.

Also try disconnecting external drives, USB hubs and card readers. Some PCs pause at startup to check every connected device.

9. Consider a reset as a last resort

If nothing else helps, Settings › System › Recovery › Reset this PC reinstalls Windows. The Keep my files option preserves your personal files but removes installed apps and settings. Back up first regardless – see our 3-2-1 backup guide.

Conclusion

For most PCs, trimming startup apps, installing pending updates and restarting properly solve the bulk of slow-boot problems. If the PC still uses a mechanical hard drive, an SSD upgrade is the most effective improvement you can make. Work through the steps in order, test after each change, and you’ll know exactly which fix made the difference.