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How Can I Improve Windows 11 Performance on my 5 year old pc?

VIKRANT 0 Reputation points
2026-05-12T12:44:23.0966667+00:00

I've recently changed over to Windows 11 from Windows 10. The performance seems to have declined from before. Opening apps takes longer than it used to, and multitasking now also feels slower and has longer startup times.

Are there any safe settings or optimizations that I can disable to improve performance without really affecting the way I use my PC on a daily basis?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures
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  1. David-M 115.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-05-12T13:26:10.78+00:00

    Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

    Since your PC is about 5 years old and you've just performed an upgrade, the performance drop is likely due to how the hardware and older software are communicating with the new Windows 11 kernel.

    I highly recommend focusing on these three areas:

    1 = Update drivers from the manufacturer:

    Do not rely solely on Windows Update. Go directly to your computer manufacturer's support website (e.g., Dell, HP, ASUS, Lenovo) and download the latest drivers specifically for your model.

    • Chipset drivers: These are critical for Windows 11 to manage power and data flow correctly.
    • GPU drivers: An outdated video driver can make the entire UI feel sluggish.
    • Network drivers: Older Wi-Fi/Ethernet drivers can cause "DPC Latency", which leads to stutters and slow app launches.

    2 = Update the BIOS/UEFI:

    For a 5-year-old machine, a BIOS update is often necessary to fully support Windows 11 features like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot optimizations. Check the manufacturer's site for a BIOS update and follow their instructions carefully, as this can significantly improve system stability and boot times.

    3 = Review third-party software:

    Software that worked fine on Windows 10 might need an update to run efficiently on Windows 11.

    • Check for updates: Open your most-used apps and check for version updates. Some apps require manual updates, and you need to download the installer from the official website.
    • Security software: If you are using a third-party Antivirus, ensure it is the latest version. Older security suites are known to cause high disk usage on Windows 11.
    • Clean reinstall: If a specific app is very slow, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. This forces the app to register correctly within the new OS environment.

    If you need more detailed help with any of these areas, please let me know.

    Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-05-12T12:45:26.8333333+00:00

    Several built-in Windows 11 options can improve performance on an older 5‑year‑old PC without changing how it is used day to day. These focus on reducing background activity and visual overhead rather than core functionality.

    1. Keep Windows and drivers updated
    • Select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
    • Install any available updates.
    • Then go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates and install any relevant optional updates (such as drivers).
    1. Run a malware scan Malware can slow the system significantly.
    • Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
    • Select Quick scan and let it complete.
    1. Free up disk space Low disk space directly impacts performance.

    Use Storage Sense:

    1. Select Start > Settings > System > Storage.
    2. Turn on Storage Sense.
    3. Select Configure Storage Sense or run it now (or Storage Sense then Run Storage sense now, depending on build).
    4. Under Free up space now, select Clean now.

    Clear temporary files manually:

    1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage.
    2. Select Temporary files.
    3. Check the file types to remove and select Remove files.

    Use Disk Cleanup:

    1. Select Start, type Disk Cleanup, and open it.
    2. Select the drive to clean and follow the prompts.
    3. Uninstall unused apps Removing unused apps frees storage and reduces background services.
    • Windows 11 variant:
      1. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
      2. Find apps that are no longer needed, select More options (…), then Uninstall.
    1. Disable startup apps This improves boot time and reduces constant background load.
    2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
    3. Select Startup apps from the left menu.
    4. Right-click apps that do not need to start with Windows and select Disable.
    5. Turn off background apps This reduces ongoing CPU and memory usage.
    • Windows 11 approach:
      1. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
      2. For an app, select More options (…) > Advanced options.
      3. Under Background app permissions, set Let this app run in the background to Never for apps that do not need background activity.
    1. Reduce visual effects Visual effects can use resources on older hardware.
    2. Select Start, type Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, and open it.
    3. On the Visual Effects tab, select Adjust for best performance.
    4. Use a higher performance power plan On a desktop or plugged‑in laptop, a higher performance power mode can help.
    5. Select Start > Settings > System > Power & sleep.
    6. Under Related settings, select Additional power settings.
    7. In Power Options, select Show additional plans (if available).
    8. Choose the High performance plan.

    Note: This may increase power consumption and heat, especially on laptops.

    1. Optimize drives For hard drives (HDDs), optimization can improve responsiveness.
    2. Select Start, type Defragment and Optimize Drives, and open it.
    3. Select the drive and choose Optimize.
    4. Monitor and close heavy processes Identify apps that use excessive CPU, memory, or disk.
    5. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
    6. On the Processes tab, sort by CPU, Memory, or Disk.
    7. Right-click apps not needed and select End task.
    8. Review Performance and Startup apps tabs to see which components consistently use high resources.
    9. Turn off unnecessary notifications This reduces small background tasks and interruptions.
    • Windows 11 style:
      1. Select Start > Settings > System > Notifications & actions.
      2. Turn off notifications for apps that are not needed.
    1. Close unused apps and restart periodically Keeping many apps and browser tabs open consumes memory and CPU.
    • Close apps and tabs that are not in use.
    • If performance still feels slow, select Start > Power > Restart, then reopen only the apps needed.

    For older 5‑year‑old hardware, combining these steps (updates, disk cleanup, startup/background reduction, visual effect changes, and power plan tuning) typically yields noticeable improvements without changing daily usage patterns.

    References:

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