5 Reasons Your Computer Is Running Slow and How to Fix Them

Even the most dedicated computer can experience fatigue after a long day of surfing, streaming, switching between applications and browsing. Applications freeze, or crash, and everything, from saving documents to loading websites, slows down to an excruciating crawl.

What can you do to fix your computer's slow performance? Tech experts and serious hobbyists were asked to help us identify the most common reasons computers slow down and how to fix them.

1. RAM is running out

For a computer or laptop to function smoothly, it is vital that you have enough random access memory (RAM). RAM is the short-term memory of your computer. It temporarily stores files that are needed to be accessed quickly by your central processing unit (CPU).

Nick Murphy, cofounder and editor of Techozu, wrote in an email that "some software and applications require lots of resources, especially if these programs run in a background and have an automatic-update mechanism." "If a program is silently updating, it will slow down the computer."

RAM is being contested by every application running on your computer. This includes browser tabs in Chrome and Safari, Spotify music streaming, and antivirus programs scanning your computer for bugs. If RAM runs out, your CPU will be overwhelmed and programs will crash, freeze, or slow down completely.

The Solution: First, close all unnecessary programs. There's an easy way for you to find out what is open on your computer.

• Windows: Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del in Windows.
• Double-click Activity Monitor on a Mac by going to the Applications folder > Utilities folder
• Click the three dots at the top of Chromebook's browser window > More tools > Task Manager

You can use all three tools to see which programs are using the most CPU and RAM. You should close any programs you don't use often.

Jeroen van Gils, founder and CEO of Lifi.co, said in an email that too many programs can start automatically on your computer's startup. This can cause your computer to run slower. You can fix this by going into your startup settings to disable any programs you don't want to start automatically.

How many tabs are you currently open in your browser? Although it may not seem like much, browser tabs can eat up RAM. Your computer will slow down if you have more than 10 tabs open simultaneously (which is possible with multiple browser windows).

Finally, if your computer has more than 4 years of age or is a bargain model, it might not have enough RAM for you to run modern, memory-hungry programs.

"All of these programs, apps, games, etc. "All of the programs, applications, games, etc. are improving constantly, and require more powerful devices in order to run smoothly," Phil Vam, tech expert, owner of Majordroid, said in an email. Although 4GB RAM seems like enough for many, the reality is that smartphones now have much more RAM. I believe 8GB RAM is sufficient, and 16GB RAM is optimal for 99 percent of users.

2. The Hard Drive is Full

The hard drive is often viewed as the computer's permanent memory. However, it isn't just used to store data. Temporary files are stored on your hard drive to help applications run smoothly.

A slow computer is often caused by a full hard drive. Levon Galstyan (a serious computer enthusiast who works for Oak View Law Group) says that it is important to keep at least 20% of the hard drive space (HDD). This will allow for smooth processing. "Almost full HDDs will not work properly."

The Solution: Uninstall all unnecessary applications to free up space on your computer. Instead, store large files in the cloud. For example, if you own a Mac you may want to store all your videos and photos in iCloud. You get 5GB storage free of charge, but you can also pay more. Microsoft OneDrive offers Windows users a similar cloud service, while Google gives you 15GB free storage.

The underlying technology that makes up your computer's hard disk is also important. While older hard drives still use spinning disks to store and write data, this can cause performance and reliability issues as well as errors.

"Fragmentation" refers to the phenomenon where files are scattered over your hard drive instead of being stored in one, logical place," Adam Crossling, chief marketing officer at Zenzero in an email. If your computer has difficulty accessing critical information, it may cause a slowdown in performance.

You will need to periodically "defragment" your disk-based hard drive in order to reorganize data. However, all the experts we spoke to recommended that you switch from an old-school disk drive to solid-state drives (SSD), which is less likely to get fragmented.

3. The software is out of date

Apple and Microsoft release the most recent version of their operating system. All the hype is focused on the new functionality. However, there's less buzz about the smaller updates that are released in between.

RouterCtrl CEO Jeremy Clifford stated in an email that "those updates are however often the most important." "Operating system upgrades" include security patches and performance improvements, which are all things that can make your computer work like molasses during winter.

The Fix: How to verify that you are running the most recent version of your operating systems.

• Click on the Start button to start a Windows laptop or PC. Next, go to Settings > Update and Security > Windows Update
• Open System Preferences on a Mac and click Updates
• Click on the About ChromeOS icon and then click on the time.

4. Malware or Viruses on Your Computer

Your computer will be slower if it has been infected by a virus or other malicious software.

Our experts recommend that you use an antivirus program or antimalware software to scan your computer for any suspicious files, bots, and other programs that can run in the background. This will help protect your RAM and processor power. Keep your antivirus software up-to-date!

Abdul Rahim, the founder of Software Test Tips, stated in an email that "[an] often cause for slowing down PCs and Macs" is outdated antivirus software. These programs can cause havoc, slowing down your computer and trying to clean up afterwards.

5. The Computer is Too Hot

Your computer may be overheating if the fan on your PC is constantly running or the laptop feels warm to the touch. Overheating can cause damage to circuit boards and other components in your computer's long-term, as well as slow down performance.

Modern processors can be programmed to slow down when internal temperatures rise too much, a technique known as thermal throttle.

The Solution: While your computer's heat sinks, internal fans, and vents will keep it cool, there are many things you can do to prevent overheating. You shouldn't keep your laptop on your lap, or on an insulating surface such as your comforter. This will trap heat.

A hot computer that is dirty will also be a hot one. Dust can block the fans and trap heat in your computer's vents.

You can clean it. Open up your PC and use compressed air to clean the fans, ducts and other parts. For the most delicate parts of your computer, you can give it a thorough clean by applying isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab.