If your Lenovo laptop is running slow on Windows 11/10, try the seven effective solutions outlined on this page to resolve the issue.
Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
---|---|
Fix 1. Clean out the dust | Your Lenovo laptop running slow on Windows 10 may be due to excessive dust in the fan and heat sink...Full steps |
Fix 2. Check memory usage | Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and then choose Task Manager. In Task Manager, select the "Performance"...Full steps |
Fix 3. Free up disk space | To speed up your Lenovo laptop, you can clean your computer to create more space and increase the C drive...Full steps |
Fix 4. Disable unnecessary startup programs | You can disable certain programs in Startup so they don't run when your PC boots up, thus speeding up...Full steps |
Fix 5. More helpful solutions | Run antivirus software, upgrade RAM, replace HDD with SSD, disable Windows 10 automatic updates...Full steps |
"My Lenovo IdeaPad 330 (256GB SSD, 8GB RAM) was very slow and laggy. I had some trouble logging in - I had to force shut down at the time. Later, Chrome and Adobe crashed and were unresponsive for a while. I ran Malwarebytes and then Avast, and no viruses were detected. My laptop is still slow. What's the issue with it? How can I make it faster and improve its performance?"
The reasons behind this issue can vary, and it's difficult to list them all without a thorough diagnosis. However, most of the common reasons that make a Lenovo laptop slow down can be categorized as follows:
Have you figured out why your Lenovo laptop is running slow? Share this article to help more users understand the reasons behind it and how to solve the issue.
Before taking action, you can make some quick fixes:
If these quick fixes don't work, try the following advanced solutions one by one to resolve the Lenovo laptop running slow issue beautifully.
A Lenovo laptop running slow on Windows 10 might be due to excessive dust in the fan and heat sink. Though tiny dust particles have a minimal effect on computer performance, when your laptop accumulates a substantial amount of dust, it can hinder the computer's ability to cool itself, subsequently impacting system performance and operating speed.
In that case, you would use a screwdriver or something similar to open your laptop properly, then use a vacuum cleaner or a can of compressed air to blow the dust away from the vents.
Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, and then select Task Manager. In Task Manager, go to the "Performance" tab and click on "Memory."
First, check how much you have in total, and then look at the graph to see how much RAM is being used.
Here's the information regarding the minimum memory (RAM) requirements for Windows 10: To run Windows 10, Microsoft recommends the following minimum system specifications: 1. For 32-bit (x86) systems: - At least 1 GB of RAM - 16 GB of available hard disk space 2. For 64-bit (x64) systems: - At least 2 GB of RAM - 20 GB of available hard disk space Please note that these are the bare minimums, and for a more comfortable and efficient experience, it is advisable to have more RAM, especially when running resource-intensive applications or multiple programs simultaneously.
You can open Resource Monitor to end some processes to free up memory. Right-click a process and click End Process.
Stop the process to free up memory usage
If your Lenovo laptop's hard drive or system drive is almost full, it will certainly experience lag. You can check for low disk space on your computer and enhance performance by freeing up disk space or increasing the size of the C drive.
How to check for low disk space and clean up the disk drive
Check for insufficient disk space.
When your hard drive has little to no free space due to an abundance of useless junk files, temporary files (that should be automatically deleted), large files, or scores of third-party apps, how do you clean them up? Naturally, you might start manually checking the files and programs stored on your PC. However, that can be extremely time-consuming.
Thanks to professional partition tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant (partition software), you can quickly and easily address the issue of a slow Lenovo laptop.
Aside from the system optimization feature, Partition Master is an all-in-one partition manager that allows you to perform various disk management tasks such as resizing/moving partitions, wiping data, cloning, merging, creating, formatting, and deleting partitions. Additionally, it offers advanced conversion functions to help you convert FAT to NTFS, MBR disks to GPT, or GPT disks to MBR. Let's now explore how to use this tool to expand the C drive on your Lenovo laptop to enhance its performance.
Option 1: Extend the System C drive with unallocated space
Option 2. Extend System C drive without unallocated space This option refers to expanding the System C drive (typically the primary partition where the operating system is installed) even if there is no contiguous unallocated space available on the hard disk. In this scenario, you would use a tool or utility that can move and merge partitions to free up space and then extend the C drive. Some disk management software, such as Windows Disk Management or third-party tools like tools Partition Master, can perform this task without requiring you to delete or format existing partitions.
0:00-0:26 Extend the System Drive with Unallocated Space; 0:27-0:58 Extend the System Drive without Unallocated Space.
When it comes to selecting a boot drive for Windows computers, a Solid State Drive (SSD) performs significantly faster than a Hard Disk Drive (HDD). If you're frustrated with the lengthy startup time of your Windows operating system on your HP PC, consider upgrading to an SSD. To make this transition without reinstalling Windows, utilize the best hard drive duplication software to migrate from HDD to SSD seamlessly.
When you turn on your PC, some programs start automatically and run in the background. You can disable these programs so they don't run when your PC starts.
Many programs are designed to start up automatically when Windows does. Software manufacturers often set their programs to open in the background— you don't realize they're running, but they'll open quickly when you go to use them. This is helpful for programs you use frequently, but not for ones you seldom use, as it increases the time it takes for Windows to start up.
A virus, malware, or malicious software could be causing your Lenovo laptop to slow down. The best approach to dealing with viruses and malicious software is to try to prevent them by running anti-malware and antivirus software and keeping it updated.
You can scan your PC for viruses or other malicious software using Windows Security (formerly known as Windows Defender Security Center), which is included with Windows 10. Alternatively, you can use other popular antivirus software, such as Avast, AVG, Avira, Kaspersky, and so on.
The most effective way to solve this problem is by upgrading the hardware for a genuine performance improvement.
Upgrade RAM
If your Lenovo laptop runs very slowly when you're doing design work, such as photo editing, video production, 3D modeling, or other tasks involving large software, consider upgrading the RAM (Random-Access Memory). A RAM upgrade can significantly speed up your Lenovo laptop, reducing system freezes or hang-ups.
Upgrade to SSD
An SSD has access speeds of 35 to 100 microseconds, which is nearly 100 times faster than a traditional HDD. Replacing your Lenovo's spinning hard drive with a new SSD is almost a guaranteed solution to improve your Lenovo's performance and fix the running slow issue. How to migrate OS from HDD to SSD? Use the tool Partition Master Professional again and follow the step-by-step guides below to upgrade your Lenovo to an SSD.
< strong > Steps to migrate OS to HDD/SSD: < /strong > 1. Backup important data: Before starting the migration process, ensure that you have backed up all your essential files and documents to an external storage device or cloud service. 2. Choose a migration tool: Select a reliable disk cloning software such as Clonezilla, Macrium Reflect, or the built-in Windows 10/11 Backup and Restore feature. Make sure the tool is compatible with your operating system. 3. Connect the new drive: Insert the new HDD or SSD into your computer. You may need an external enclosure or a SATA-to-USB adapter if your system doesn't have an empty internal slot. 4. Prepare the new drive: Format the new HDD or SSD using the appropriate file system (e.g., NTFS for Windows, HFS+ or APFS for macOS). This will erase all data on the new drive. 5. Launch the migration tool: Open the disk cloning software you've chosen, and follow its instructions to initiate the cloning process. 6. Select source and target drives: In the software, choose your current OS drive (usually C:) as the source and the new HDD/SSD as the target. 7. Start the cloning process: Click on the 'Clone' or 'Start' button to begin copying the data from your old drive to the new one. This may take some time depending on the size of your OS and other installed applications. 8. Verify the clone: Once the cloning is complete, check the new drive to ensure that everything has been transferred correctly. 9. Boot from the new drive: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings. Change the boot order to prioritize the new HDD/SSD over the old one. 10. Test the system: Save any changes and exit BIOS/UEFI. Your computer should now boot from the new drive. Check if the OS and applications are functioning properly. 11. (Optional) Remove old drive: If you're confident that the new drive is working correctly, you can safely remove the old drive or use it for storage purposes. Remember to always exercise caution when dealing with disk migrations, as it involves handling sensitive data and hardware.
"Reboot Now" means to apply the changes immediately, while "Done" means you'll need to restart your computer manually at a later time.
Important: If there isn't enough unallocated space on the target disk, the OS migration operation will delete and remove all existing partitions and data. Backup important data to an external hard drive beforehand if necessary.
Don't overlook one fact: Each Windows 10 update brings issues along. Even if you've tried all the recommended solutions above, it's still advisable to permanently turn off the Windows 10 automatic update.
Indeed, it can be very frustrating to deal with automatic Windows 10 updates. Disable the automatic updates in every way now by following this link: How to Stop Windows 10 from Automatically Updating.
If your Lenovo laptop is still running slow after trying all the solutions above, you can also reach out to us directly for assistance.
Further Reading: Boot Lenovo Laptop from USB; Lenovo Laptop Trapped in Boot Loop
We hope the seven solutions outlined in this article can assist you in resolving the issue of your Lenovo laptop running slowly on Windows 10. Whether you have a Lenovo IdeaPad 330, 330s, 320(s), or s145, feel free to try out these effective methods. Should any difficulties arise and you're unable to resolve them, don't hesitate to reach out to our technical support team for assistance through live chat or email.
Here are some possible reasons that cause Lenovo laptop to be slow:
How to speed up Lenovo laptop Windows 10:
Tips to enhance PC performance in Windows 10:
To clear the RAM on your Lenovo laptop, you'll need to open the laptop's back cover, locate the RAM modules, and remove them for cleaning. However, if you're not comfortable with computers, we don't recommend doing this yourself. It's best to seek assistance from a computer professional or take your laptop to an after-sales service center for cleaning.