Laptop performance slowing down? These 5 mistakes could be the reason

We have all been in situations where our laptops have given up on us during the most crucial times – an important presentation during a virtual meeting and the entire screen freezes, lagging issues in the middle of a competitive game, slow boot-ups and so on. But have you ever wondered what could be causing such issues and if there was a way to prevent these things from happening to your laptop?

Survey

Now, there is no magic spell to improve your laptop’s performance overnight, but there certainly are a few things that you can pay attention to. Let’s look at five mistakes you could be making that affect your laptop’s performance.

Add As A Trusted Source For Google.

Add as a preferred source on Google

Also read: Microsoft will end Windows 10 support soon, but you can still get it free for a year

1. Poor charging habits

Keeping your laptop plugged in all the time, frequently draining it to 0 percent, or using low-quality chargers may seem harmless, but these habits slowly eat away at battery health and overall performance. Constant charging and heavy usage generate heat, which accelerates battery wear and can even throttle CPU and GPU speeds. Over time, the battery loses capacity, forcing you to rely on wall power and making your laptop less portable. Inconsistent power delivery from mismatched chargers can further cause slow charging, unstable performance, or even hardware damage. As the battery weakens, the system may switch to power-saving modes more often, leading to noticeable slowdowns. 

To keep your laptop running smoothly, it’s best to charge between 20–80 percent, avoid heat buildup while plugged in, and always stick to the original charger.

2. Not upgrading your RAM

Your laptop’s RAM is its short-term memory, and if it fills up, Windows starts swapping data to the hard drive, which is painfully slow by comparison. In other words, it’s like trying to work on a tiny, cluttered desk: once you run out of space, you shove papers on the floor and waste time finding them. Modern browsers and games gobble GBs of RAM, so anything less than 8 GB can leave your laptop feeling laggy. If multitasking makes your system choke, consider a RAM upgrade.

3. Overloading your storage drive

If your laptop’s storage is bursting at the seams, performance will suffer. It is generally recommended to keep at least 10-20 per cent of your SSD empty for things to function easily on your laptop.  This is because SSDs need at least 10–20 percent free space to maintain their pseudo-cache and ensure fast read/write speeds. Meanwhile, HDDs are not affected in the same way since there is no pseudo Cache over there. 

Now, this mistake can easily be fixed. You can start by freeing up disk space. Deleting old videos, uninstalling unused programs, and running Disk Cleanup are some of the best hygiene practices. If you’re using an HDD, defragment it occasionally or, better yet, upgrade to an SSD for significantly faster performance. 

Not to mention SSDs, when compared to HDDs, are more durable, more energy-efficient, and quieter, leading to quicker boot times, faster file transfers, better overall system responsiveness, and longer battery life in laptops. 

4. Overlooking malware and viruses

Sometimes, a few unwelcome guests in your system can cause performance issues. Malware and viruses can enter your system while opening an unfamiliar website, clicking on a link sent by a stranger or downloading pirated content.  These then secretly run background processes that eat up CPU and memory. Even if you’re squeaky clean from malware, there might be bloatware, which is basically those trial apps and pre-installed programs you never use.

So, if you think malware or viruses might have entered your system, it is always wise to run a full antivirus scan and ruthlessly uninstall software you don’t need.

5. Not paying attention to thermals

It is common for laptops to get slightly warm during heavy workloads. However, it is not common for a laptop to heat regularly to a point where performance starts getting affected. 

Heat is a stealthy performance killer. When your laptop’s internals get too hot, it will throttle down to avoid damage, meaning it deliberately slows itself. The problem here could be clogged fans or dried-out thermal paste, which can make your laptop feel like a brick.

However, there is a surprisingly easy solution here: clean out the vents, use compressed air on fans, and avoid using your laptop on a fluffy blanket or pillow since it blocks airflow. Even a cheap cooling pad or just elevating your laptop can help it stay cool, calm, and collected under heavy load.

These were 5 mistakes that you unknowingly may be committing that slow down your laptop’s performance. In most cases, a little digital housekeeping can breathe new life into old hardware. Close those runaway apps, clear out disk clutter, keep your antivirus active, and don’t let your machine cook itself. And if everything fails, consider hardware upgrades like more RAM or an SSD.

Also read: Apple’s 2026 MacBook Pro OLED tipped to come with Samsung display, all details

Follow Us

Divyanshi Sharma

Divyanshi Sharma is a media and communications professional with over 8 years of experience in the industry. With a strong background in tech journalism, she has covered everything from the latest gadgets to gaming trends and brings a sharp editorial lens to every story. She holds a master’s diploma in mass communication and a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Her love for writing and gaming began early—often skipping classes to try out the latest titles—which naturally evolved into a career at the intersection of technology and storytelling. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her exploring virtual worlds on her console or PC, or testing out a new laptop she managed to get her hands on. View Full Profile