James Harper
How To Accelerate Your Windows 11 Startup Speed with Advanced Fixes
If your Windows 11 PC is taking forever to boot up, you’re probably not alone. It’s frustrating when turning on the PC feels like waiting for a dial-up connection from the 90s. This guide digs into some tried-and-true methods to speed things up, including flipping the switch on Fast Startup, running system repair tools, and taming those startup programs people forget they installed.
Step 1: Enable Fast Startup
This one’s kind of weird, but enabling Fast Startup can shave off a few seconds by hurrying the shutdown-start process. Basically, it keeps a snapshot of the kernel and drivers to fire things up quicker next time. If you haven’t played with it yet, this is a good start. Look, the reason it helps is because windows doesn’t have to fully reboot to get going — it just resumes from a hibernation-like state.
When it applies: You notice your PC takes ages after a restart or shutdown, not so much after sleep.
What to expect: Quicker boot times, less staring at the spinning dots.
Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary, you might find the option is turned off by default or greyed out. Here’s how to turn it on:
- Click on the Search icon and type
Control Panel. Hit Enter and open it. - In Control Panel, switch to Large icons view for easier navigation.
- Click on Power Options.
- On the sidebar, choose Choose what the power buttons do.
- If it’s greyed out, click Change settings that are currently unavailable at the top. This requires admin rights sometimes.
- Scroll down to the Shutdown settings section. Check the box for Turn on fast startup (recommended).
- Hit Save changes.
Step 2: Run System File Checker (SFC)
This feels a bit old school, but corrupted system files can really drag down startup times. Running sfc /scannow checks your core system files for errors and repairs them if needed. Not sure why it works, but on some setups, it fixes weird boot bugs.
When it applies: You’ve noticed hangs during startup or after updates, and the system feels sluggish.
What to expect: Files get checked, corrupted bits get repaired, and your Windows becomes a bit healthier overall.
Here’s how you do it:
- Click on the Search icon, type
cmd. - Right-click on Command Prompt and pick Run as administrator.
- Proceed if any User Account Control prompts pop up.
- Type this command and hit Enter:
sfc /scannow. - Be patient—it can take a few minutes. Once it finishes, it’ll tell you if it fixed anything or not.
Step 3: Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs
Too many apps jumping into action on startup is like trying to start a car while everyone is honking. Best to tame that startup list.
This step is crucial because the more stuff launching automatically, the longer the delay. Not all programs are vital, so here’s how to turn off the fluff:
- Right-click the Start button and pick Task Manager.
- Head over to the Startup tab. If you don’t see it, click More details at the bottom.
- Here, you’ll see a list of apps with a Status. Those enabled are adding to your boot time.
- Disable anything that’s not essential — think chat apps, cloud syncers, or anything you recognize as unnecessary. Right-click and choose Disable.
- Be careful not to disable your antivirus or drivers, or you might end up with more problems.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
If your PC still refuses to be speedy, consider these quick checks:
- Check your disk space — your C: drive should have around 20-50 GB free at least. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
- Run disk cleanup sometimes (just type
Disk Cleanupin search) to clear temp files that stack up and slow things down. - Keep Windows updated. Those updates often fix bugs, including slow boot issues, and update your drivers.
Conclusion
Following these steps can make a noticeable difference. Enabling Fast Startup, running a system file health check, and trimming your startup programs are simple hacks that actually work. After all, a faster boot means less frustration and more time enjoying your PC instead of waiting for it to wake up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my PC is still slow after these steps?
If it’s still sluggish, malware scans or a fresh Windows install might be what’s needed. Sometimes, a clean slate makes all the difference.
How do I know which startup programs to disable?
Look at what’s listed — if you don’t recognize it, Google it. Usually, you can disable junk apps, but leave drivers and critical utilities alone.
Is Fast Startup available on all Windows 11 PCs?
Yeah, it’s a built-in feature, but its effectiveness totally depends on your hardware. Some SSDs get more benefit than older spinning disks. Give it a try and see if it matters for you.
Summary
- Enable Fast Startup to cut boot time
- Run sfc /scannow for system health
- Disable unnecessary startup apps
- Keep your disk space and system updated
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Good luck with the speed boost, and if it gets one update moving, mission accomplished.