Speeding up Windows 10 boot time.
A slow Windows boot time is more than just an inconvenience. Waiting for your PC to become usable can disrupt your workflow, delay simple tasks, and signal deeper performance issues. While older hardware can contribute to long startup times, software-related factors are often the real cause — and they’re usually fixable.
Why Windows Takes So Long to Start
When Windows boots, it doesn’t just load the operating system. It also launches background services, startup programs, drivers, and system processes that are configured to run automatically. Over time, this startup list tends to grow as new software is installed, updates are applied, and settings change.
Some startup items are essential, but many are not. Unnecessary programs, outdated drivers, system clutter, and fragmented resources can all slow down the boot process. In some cases, Windows may appear to have started, but background tasks continue to run for minutes before the system becomes fully responsive.
Understanding what affects boot time is the first step toward improving it. Below, we’ll cover the most common causes of slow Windows startup and practical ways to reduce boot times without compromising system stability.
1. Enable Fast Startup
Windows 10 comes with a built-in startup accelerator aptly named “Fast Startup”. Don’t get too excited yet as this works only with shutdowns, and only if you have the hibernate option enabled.
That’s because Fast Startup saves your essential system files much in the same way that hibernation does so that it can load them more quickly the next time you boot.
To enable Fast Startup:
- Go to Settings > Power & Sleep
- Click on Additional power settings under Related settings
- Choose what the power buttons do from the left sidebar
- Turn on fast startup (recommended) under Shutdown settings
2. Disable Startup Programs
By default, Windows 10 loads plenty of programs you may not actually need. Add to that the programs you manually install and which may autorun by default, and the impact on startup can be big. So, roll up your sleeves and sweep out the programs you don’t need from startup.
To disable startup programs:
- Open the Task Manager
- Use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc Keyboard Shortcut
- Or right-click on the Taskbar and click on Task Manager
- Click the Startup tab
- Right-click on the program and Disable it
Note: The Task Manager in Windows 10 shows you the “Startup impact” of programs. Optimize boot times by disabling all non-essential High impact programs.
3. Tone Down the Special Effects
If you like the many little special effects in Windows 10, this setting isn’t for you. But if you’re using an older computer, you may want to help it out a bit, and one of the best ways to do this is to ditch the special effects.
It’s surprisingly easy:
- Right-click on the Start button
- Click on System
- Go to Advanced system settings > System Properties > Performance
- Click on the Advanced tab
- Click on Settings
- Choose Adjust for best performance in the Visual Effects tab
Note: If there are some special effects that you particularly like, such as smooth edges for fonts, choose to Customize effects instead (but try to leave most of them out).
4. Clean Up Your Disk
Using the built-in Disk Cleanup utility regularly can further improve your Windows boot time. Don’t expect too big of a boost, but since you free up some disk space in the process, why not do it? Disk Cleanup cleans up temporary files and other junk files you don’t need and is a quick alternative to the many more advanced startup cleaners available on Windows.
How to use it:
- Press the Windows Key
- Type in Disk Cleanup to open it
- Choose the types of files you want to delete
Note: To save up GBs worth of space, choose to delete Temporary files, which may include both system and program files. You won’t be missing these for long, though, since Windows will usually start recreating them the next time you log in.
5. Decrease the Boot Menu Time-Out
Noticed the boot menu at start-up, just before Windows 10 begins to load? Then you’re probably dual-booting two versions of Windows or two different operating systems.
While you do need this screen to choose your OS, you don’t have to put up with it for 30 seconds, which is the default setting. You can reduce the boot menu time-out and save 20 seconds or more on dual-booting Windows.
How to do it:
- Press the Windows + R Keys
- Type in SystemPropertiesAdvanced
- Click on Settings in Startup and Recovery
- Change Time to display list of operating systems to 5 seconds
Note: 5 seconds should be enough for a fast boot, but you can choose a longer interval if that makes it easier.
6. Check Your Power Options
Power plans are a useful feature for Windows laptop users, but if you’re on desktop, you may not need one. Even if you’re using a laptop, you may still disable your power plan to speed up your computer’s performance, and by implication, squeeze the startup time some more.
Change your power plan:
- Open the Control Panel through the Windows button on the Taskbar
- Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options
- Switch from a power-saving or balanced plan to a High-Performance plan
7. Keep Your Hard Disk Tidy
It’s not just the quality of your hard disk (and its transfer speed) that influences your operating system’s boot time, but also its tidiness. We’ve already talked about cleaning up temporary files, but file defragmentation can also be a problem, one that occurs over time as you use your computer.
Windows 10 automatically defrags files for you every week or so, or at least it should. But if your computer is getting slow, you’d want to check the fragmentation level using the built-in disk optimization tool. If more than 5-10% of your disk is fragmented, you should defrag.
Probably the quickest way to defrag:
- Type in defrag in the Taskbar
- Open the disk optimization tool
- Choose the hard drive where Windows 10 is installed and Analyze it
- Click Optimize to defrag it
Bringing Your Windows Startup Back Up to Speed
Improving Windows boot time is often about removing friction rather than adding hardware. By trimming unnecessary startup programs, keeping system files healthy, and addressing background processes that slow initialization, you can significantly reduce the time it takes for your PC to become usable.
A proactive approach to system maintenance helps prevent startup slowdowns from returning. Regular optimization, careful software installation habits, and keeping Windows updated all play a role in maintaining fast boot times. With the right adjustments, you can turn a sluggish startup into a quick, predictable part of your daily routine.