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Win 11 pro so very sluggish after update

David Neris 0 Reputation points
2026-05-04T20:35:29.4833333+00:00

After a Windows 11 update, my computer seems to be very sluggish and slow when starting up, shutting down or when using it to open APPs or opening the internet. I cleared cashes and put to sleep apps on startups. No changes. I have 32Gigs of memory and 800GB of free SSD. Please help

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures
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  1. John DeV 164.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-05-04T21:18:31.98+00:00

    Hi, good day!

    I'll be asking a few questions so I can have a better idea what solutions to provide.

    • When was the last time it worked properly?
    • What specific update did you install recently?
    • Have you tried the AI suggested solutions?

    I look forward to your update and am happy to continue working with you until the issue is resolved. Please keep me posted by clicking "Add comment" below instead of selecting Yes or No.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-05-04T20:35:43.56+00:00

    Try the following steps in order, checking performance after each.

    1. Install all Windows and driver updates
    • Select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
    • Install everything offered and restart.
    • Then go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates and install any available optional updates (especially drivers). Restart again.
    1. Scan for malware Malware can slow startup, shutdown, and app launches.
    • Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
    • Select Quick scan and let it complete. Restart if prompted.
    1. Reduce visual effects
    • Select Start, type Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, and open it.
    • On the Visual Effects tab, select Adjust for best performance and apply.
    1. Set power mode to Best performance
    • Select Start > Settings > System > Power & battery (or Power & sleep on some builds).
    • Set Power mode to Best performance.
      • On some systems: go to Additional power settings and choose the High performance plan.
    • Note: This increases power usage and heat, especially on laptops.
    1. Optimize the system drive
    • Select Start, type Defragment and Optimize Drives, and open it.
    • Select the system SSD and choose Optimize.
    1. Check for heavy background processes
    • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
    • On the Processes tab, sort by CPU and Memory and end tasks for apps not needed.
    • On the Startup apps tab, disable non-essential apps from starting with Windows.
    1. Free up additional drive space and temp files Even with free space, cleaning temp and update remnants can help after big updates.
    • Use Cleanup recommendations or Storage tools to remove temporary files and old update files as described in the drive space article.
    • If seeing repeated Low Disk Space or Temp folder issues after cleanup, reset Microsoft Store and Windows Update as follows:
      1. Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > run Windows Store Apps.
      2. Press Windows key + R, type wsreset.exe, select OK, wait for Store to reopen.
      3. In the same Other troubleshooters page, run Windows Update and restart.
    1. Turn off unnecessary notifications and close unused apps
    • Go to Start > Settings > System > Notifications and turn off apps that are not needed.
    • Keep fewer apps and browser tabs open; if the system feels bogged down, do a full Restart from Start > Power > Restart and then open only required apps.

    If performance is still poor after all of these, the update may be exposing a driver or hardware issue. In that case, collect details from Task Manager (high CPU/disk processes) and Event Viewer and consider further diagnostics or support.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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