Slow startup (~2 min) on Win11 - How do I fix?

Question

Slow startup (~2 min) on Win11 - How do I fix?

Jseagull 20

I have tried performing quite a few of the recommended fixes (limit startup apps, System File Checker & DISM, identify corrupted files/drivers etc., installed latest updates, malware scan, turn off fast start up, etc). Appears that there aren't any problems with the apps that are installed and sufficient memory, disk, etc. I am running a Dell Inspiron laptop with SSD.

I have read that there are MS updates that may be causing this issue (affecting multiple users other than myself). Tried uninstalling updates that can be uninstalled (since beginning 2026), to no avail. Some suspected updates, e.g., KB5063878, KB5065426 and KB5065789, don't appear available for me to uninstall.

What is recommended at this point?

Russell Ryan 0 Reputation points

2026-05-01T00:24:33.3233333+00:00

I have the same problem. It takes slightly less than 2 minutes for networking to start.

For example, if I start the PC, but do NOT login - generally the networking will start up and I'll see the wireless icon appear and connect to my local wireless. This still happens, but only after 2 minutes.

Ditto if I log in.

For 2 minutes, there's an icon (No network/no internet access) in the system tray/notification area on the task bar. Everything else works OK, except that some apps, like Windows Update, may complain about being unable to connect.

Then, after 2 mins, network connects, and all is well.

Like Jonathon (@Jseagull) above, I've tried all the options available from Googling to no avail. I think they are all solutions for a different problem - this started happening maybe 6 to 8 weeks ago (~March 2026), difficult to be sure.

Any suggestions about logs to review would be appreciated.
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Jseagull 20 Reputation points

2026-05-01T00:55:11.5333333+00:00

Russell,

I solved it by doing a reinstall to factory settings. You can Google how to do this. Remember to backup your files and favorites as you will need to reinstall all you pc software. Now it works great. Takes time but not difficult to fix.

I reported the issue to MS and included a description of what I did to solve the issue prior to the factory OS reinstall. https://aka.ms/AA10mxn9 is my entry to MS.

The reinstall takes time but is easy.

Jonathan
Jseagull 20 Reputation points

2026-05-01T00:56:17.13+00:00

Russell,

I solved it by doing a reinstall to factory settings. You can Google how to do this. Remember to backup your files and favorites as you will need to reinstall all you pc software. Now it works great. Takes time but not difficult to fix.

I reported the issue to MS and included a description of what I did to solve the issue prior to the factory OS reinstall. https://aka.ms/AA10mxn9 is my entry to MS.

The reinstall takes time but is easy.

Jonathan

3 answers

Your answer

Russell Ryan 0 Reputation points

2026-05-01T00:24:33.3233333+00:00

I have the same problem. It takes slightly less than 2 minutes for networking to start.

For example, if I start the PC, but do NOT login - generally the networking will start up and I'll see the wireless icon appear and connect to my local wireless. This still happens, but only after 2 minutes.

Ditto if I log in.

For 2 minutes, there's an icon (No network/no internet access) in the system tray/notification area on the task bar. Everything else works OK, except that some apps, like Windows Update, may complain about being unable to connect.

Then, after 2 mins, network connects, and all is well.

Like Jonathon (@Jseagull) above, I've tried all the options available from Googling to no avail. I think they are all solutions for a different problem - this started happening maybe 6 to 8 weeks ago (~March 2026), difficult to be sure.

Any suggestions about logs to review would be appreciated.
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Jseagull 20 Reputation points

2026-05-01T00:55:11.5333333+00:00

Russell,

I solved it by doing a reinstall to factory settings. You can Google how to do this. Remember to backup your files and favorites as you will need to reinstall all you pc software. Now it works great. Takes time but not difficult to fix.

I reported the issue to MS and included a description of what I did to solve the issue prior to the factory OS reinstall. https://aka.ms/AA10mxn9 is my entry to MS.

The reinstall takes time but is easy.

Jonathan
Jseagull 20 Reputation points

2026-05-01T00:56:17.13+00:00

Russell,

I solved it by doing a reinstall to factory settings. You can Google how to do this. Remember to backup your files and favorites as you will need to reinstall all you pc software. Now it works great. Takes time but not difficult to fix.

I reported the issue to MS and included a description of what I did to solve the issue prior to the factory OS reinstall. https://aka.ms/AA10mxn9 is my entry to MS.

The reinstall takes time but is easy.

Jonathan

Answer 1

Hello, I "wrestled" with the delay startup for a month, reviewing Event Viewer in detail, and trying multiple solutions, as suggested by various posts on the microsoft website, on reddit, and elsewhere, requiring hours and hours of work. Finally, I did a fresh re-install of Windows 11. This preserved my documents, photos, and videos, but deleted various apps, some of which I have re-installed (but not all). This solved the problem, suggesting that the delay may have involved one of my installed apps (now deleted) or may have been some fault in the Windows 11 installation, corrected upon the re-install. WHAT A HEADACHE!

Answer 2

DaveM121 880.8K Independent Advisor

Please provide some more information on this slow startup problem.

When you start your PC, you should see the PC manufacturers logo screen, then the spinning dots to indicate Windows is starting, then the login screen, and then you log into Windows.

At what point in that process does the start-up process hang and get stuck before Windows eventually starts.

Jseagull 20 Reputation points

2026-04-13T06:21:45.47+00:00

The process where to logo comes up and I ultimately can gain access to the desktop has not changed. The change I see is the delay once I get to the desktop while the system doesn't allow me access to the network/internet. The access to the internet used to be available once I get to the desktop, but now after I get to the desktop there is a 2 minute delay until I have network access.

I have tried stopping all non essential (non MS) startup apps and that has not effect. I have deleted some of the key network drivers just in case there was corruption, and that hasn't had an effect. Tried a lot of things to verify if there are corrupted files, but that doesn't identify anything.

Thank you for your interest in assisting me.
DaveM121 880.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-13T06:25:59.74+00:00

Thank you for that information.

1

The best first option is to go to the support page for your PC on the manufacturers website, then form there, download and reinstall (not update) the version of network drivers they provide.

2

If that does not resolve the problem, perform an in-place repair with the Windows 11 ISO.

Please ensure you download the ISO in the same language as you use for the Windows UI, follow the steps, this is then not like re-installing Windows, it is just like an update and your personal files, settings and installed software will not be affected.

Click this link:

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

to download the Windows 11 ISO

When the ISO file completes downloading

Disconnect from the Internet

Disconnect all external devices with the exception of a mouse or keyboard.

Temporarily disable any 3rd party Anti-virus you may have installed

Then, in Windows File Explorer, double click the ISO and then run Setup.exe and select the Install option.

Very Important - ensure you select the option to keep your files and apps.
Jseagull 20 Reputation points

2026-04-17T01:47:25.0333333+00:00

Dave,

Thank you for the recommendations. I tried both but neither worked. I also saw another recommendation to change from automatic to manual static DNS. I tried that but it didn't work.

Do you have any other ideas>?

Is there a way to look at the startup process to see where it may be getting delayed?

Is an option to do a restore? I am not sure if that is any different that the recommendation #2 above (in place repair).

Any ideas would help.

thanks.
MEM GUM 0 Reputation points

2026-04-20T09:26:48.8533333+00:00

I have the same problems and have tried many suggested solutions without success
Jseagull 20 Reputation points

2026-04-20T14:24:52.0666667+00:00

MEM GUM: I submitted an issue to Microsoft. Go to the issue I submitted and vote that you are having the same issue and then follow it. https://aka.ms/AA10mxn9

You can also see all the steps I have taken, including updating all the drivers.

Hopefully we will see some response from MS.
Jseagull 20 Reputation points

2026-04-23T00:34:27.6333333+00:00

I contacted Dell support and they tried some things that I tried. Since no resolution with their ideas they recommended a reinstallation of Windows. That worked and the problem is solved; although I am now reinstalling all the software and extensions etc. since the reinstallation wipes everything off (like getting a new machine). Hope this is helpful.

Answer 3

AI answer

Given that common fixes and update rollbacks did not help, focus on isolating what is actually delaying startup and then optimizing Windows itself.

Check for non‑Microsoft services or startup items causing delay (clean boot)
1. Select Search, type msconfig, and open System Configuration.
2. On the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft services, then select Disable all.
3. Go to the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
4. In Task Manager, Disable all non‑essential startup programs.
5. Restart the PC and measure startup time.
6. If startup is now fast, re‑enable services/startup items one at a time and restart after each until the slowdown returns. The last item enabled is the cause; leave it disabled or uninstall/update that software.
7. When finished, reset to normal startup:
  - In System Configuration, on General, select Normal startup.
  - On Services, clear Hide all Microsoft services, select Enable all, then Apply.
  - On Startup → Open Task Manager, re‑enable only the items that did not cause problems.
This follows the clean‑boot isolation steps for finding a problematic service or app.
Optimize Windows visual effects and power mode Even on SSD systems, heavy visual effects and conservative power settings can make startup feel sluggish. • Adjust for best performance:
1. Select Start, type Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, and open it.
2. On the Visual Effects tab, select Adjust for best performance.
• Set power to Best performance:
1. Select Start > Settings > System > Power & battery.
2. In Power mode, select Best performance.
Note: Best performance increases power usage and heat, especially on laptops.
Check for disk or process bottlenecks during startup
1. After signing in, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. On Processes, sort by CPU and Disk and see which processes are high for the first 1–2 minutes.
3. If a specific app or service is consistently high, disable it from Startup apps or uninstall/update it.
4. On the Startup apps tab, disable anything non‑essential and test again.
Optimize drives
1. Select Start, type Defragment and Optimize Drives, and open it.
2. Select the system drive and choose Optimize.
General performance checks In addition to what was already tried (updates, SFC/DISM, malware scan): • Turn off unnecessary notifications:
1. Select Start > Settings > System > Notifications.
2. Turn off notifications for apps that are not needed. • Close unused apps and periodically restart the PC instead of using only sleep/hibernate.

If none of the above changes affect startup time, and no single service or app stands out in the clean‑boot test, the issue is likely deeper in the OS or drivers. At that point, using Reset this PC with Keep my files (to reinstall Windows while preserving personal data) is the next recommended step, as shown in similar severe‑corruption cases in the context.

References:

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Slow startup (~2 min) on Win11 - How do I fix?

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