Microsoft recently released Windows 11 via Dev Channel. Windows 10 users interested in upgrading to Windows 11 Build 22000.51 can do so via the Dev Channel. Windows 11 has an entirely new design and more features. However, some users still experience slow startup.
It is worth noting that some people who are waiting for stable public builds may need to wait for it for several months. The topic of PC configuration compatibility, apart from the Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 requirements, is a hot topic right now. There may be several reasons why Windows 11 does not start on your laptop or desktop.
What are the possible causes for Windows OS Slow Boot?
A computer with lower specifications often causes a slower system boot. The latest Windows OS version may be compatible with your computer. Still, it requires more resources or higher hardware performance to improve the user experience.
Whereas issues with the background running startup tasks, outdated Windows OS build, issues with the hard disk or not using an SSD, obsolete graphics card drivers, wrongly installed or corrupted Windows software, not having enough RAM, conflicting with security programs, etc. are also applicable for a slow start of Windows 11.
How to Fix Windows 11 Slow Startup
We now know the causes of this problem. Let’s get into the troubleshooting guide below.
Disable Startup Programs
It has been proven that many unnecessary startup programs/apps can slow down the boot time for Windows computers. We strongly recommend that you disable any unnecessary startup apps/services to decrease the boot-up times.
- Open Task Manager by pressing the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys.
- After that, move to the Startup tab.
- Right-click on the only app/service that you want to close and then select Disable.
- To clear out all unnecessary apps and services, repeat the process for each one. To verify that the startup time has increased or not, restart your computer.
Update Your Windows OS Build
If your Windows OS builds haven’t been updated in a while, there are chances that they are causing performance problems and increasing startup times. It is better to keep your Windows OS built up to date to enhance system stability and performance.
- Right-click on the Start menu button and choose Settings.
- Now, choose Windows Update from the left panel.
- After that, click on Check for updates from the right panel.
- If any update is available, it will automatically download and install it.
- The installation may take some time.
- Lastly, restart your PC to change effects quickly.
Update Graphics Drivers
A Windows PC with an outdated graphics card driver can cause lags, crashes, and other issues in the game. These issues can still be experienced if you don’t update your GPU drivers. Follow the steps below.
- Right-click on the Start button menu and select Device Manager.
- Double-click to expand it.
- Right-click on your Graphics card and choose Update driver.
- After that, select Search automatically for drivers.
- It will automatically download and install any possible update.
- Finally, reboot your system to apply changes.
Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
Windows Update Troubleshooter can be used to determine if there are any issues with Windows 11 Slow Startup. To do so:
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Scroll down and select Troubleshoot from the right panel.
- After that, click on Other troubleshooters.
- Lastly, click on the Run button beside Windows Update.
- The system will automatically check multiple items and initiate diagnostics. You can search online for the best troubleshooting and fix any issues that are detected.
- You can also follow the next step.
Reinstall Windows 11 on an SSD
We strongly recommend reinstalling Windows 11 on an SSD (Solid State Drive) to optimize performance, speed up system boot-up, perform tasks, and improve app loading times. Don’t spend your time if you haven’t used an SSD.
This is the best way to install Windows 11 on an SSD. You will mark a difference in all aspects. If you are already using an SSD but still experiencing slow boot-up, then please follow this link.
Delete WDI directory files
Note: You should be careful when deleting system files. A mistake could cause problems with Windows boot-up and system services.
- Press Win key + E to open File Explorer then click on This PC.
- After that, open C: drive where you have installed Windows 11 ( If you have the OS installed on another drive, go there ).
- Now, go to the Windows folder. After that, open the System32 folder.
- Then, open the WDI folder. When prompt, click on Continue.
- Select all files by pressing Ctrl + A.
- Warning: After selecting the files, copy them to another drive to make a backup if something goes wrong.
- After that, press the Delete key.
- If the LogFiles folder is unable to delete, then open it ( click continue if prompt). Now select all and delete them.
- Next, go back and delete the Log folder.
- Close the window and restart your system after you have completed the process.
Delete Temporary Files
As the name implies, temporary files are created by Windows automatically in the memory when performing any task. It allows users to achieve the same task faster and more smoothly the next time. But, corrupted or older temporary files can cause problems with system performance and boot sequence.
- Press Windows key + R, then type %temp% and hit Enter key.
- After that, press the Ctrl key + A to select all files and then hit the delete key.
- When it prompts, then tick Do this for all current items and click on Continue.
- Allow the process to complete, and if some files aren’t deleted, then skip them.
- Restart your system to check the boot time.
Enable Storage Sense
There are high chances that your Windows 11 system doesn’t have the Storage Sense feature turned on by default. You can follow the below steps if that is the case:
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- After that, select Storage from the right panel.
- Then, click on Storage Sense.
- Turn On the Automatic User content cleanup.
- Now, Tick the box that says Keep Windows running smoothly by automatically cleaning up temporary system and app files.
- You can set up the Run Storage Sense Schedule For every week or every month.
- Lastly, scroll down and click on Run Storage Sense now.
- After you have finished that, reboot your Pc to see if it works or not.
Clear Background Running Tasks
- Right-click on the Start button menu and select Task Manager.
- Right-click on the app and choose End task that runs unnecessarily in the background and consumes enough system resources.
- After you have completed that, reboot your PC to see if it works or not.
Optimize Drives
It is worth noting that every Windows PC creates temporary files and data, which can become fragmented over time. These fragmented files can be stored on your computer and could cause problems with drive optimizations and performance. It is crucial to analyze and optimize all fragmented partitions on your disk drive.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Now, select Storage from the left panel.
- Next, select Advanced storage settings.
- After that, choose Drive optimization.
- Tick mark the Advanced View option to expand the list.
- Click on Analyze to see if any drives contain fragmented items.
- Select the drive that shows a fragmented percentage.
- After that, click on Optimizer and wait until the status changes to 0% fragmented.
- Finally, reboot your system to save changes, and you will notice a slight improvement in startup time.
Scan for Virus & Threats
Potential viruses and malware can be downloaded, installed, or transferred to your computer from any third-party platform or source. We can’t prevent them all from getting into our computers. Still, we can scan the system and take away any vulnerabilities or risks that could easily compromise the system.
Windows Defender is the default antivirus program for Windows 11. If you use another antivirus program, scan the C: drive with that tool to identify any potential issues.
If you are using Windows Defender default, make sure to follow these steps:
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Now, select Privacy & Security from the left panel.
-  After that, click on Windows Security from the right panel.
- Next, select Virus & threat protection and click on Quick scan.
- Wait till the scanning process finish.
- Windows Defender will remove any potential vulnerabilities from your computer automatically.
Turn Off Fast Startup
Windows 10 and Windows 11 both have an integrated Turn on fast start feature that automatically speeds up the system’s boot-up time. However, this is not true for all users. Users have reported slower boot-up times if this option is enabled.
The Fast Startup option can be disabled to speed up the boot-up process dramatically. You can turn it off here:
- Type Control Panel on the Search menu and hit Enter key.
- Select Hardware and Sound.
- Next, select the Power Option.
- After that, click on Choose what the power button does from the left-hand panel.
- Now, select Change settings that are currently unavailable link.
- Untick Turn on fast startup, then click on Save changes.
- Restart your system to verify that the boot time has improved.
Reset This PC
If your Windows 11 slow startup problem persists, make sure you use the Reset This PC option. It will reset the default settings to Windows 11. The factory reset may be able to fix any issues caused by third-party programs or files.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Scroll down and select Recovery from the right panel.
- After that, click on the Reset PC beside the Reset This PC option.
- When prompt, choose the option which suits you better.
- Follow the instructions on the screen and wait for it to finish.
- Finally, reboot your system and go through the initial setup process (If any).
Go Back to the Early Version of Windows
If none of these methods are useful, you can always go back to the older Windows OS version. To do so:
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Next, select Recovery from the right panel.
- Now, click on the Go back button beside the Previous version of Windows option.
- It can take some time. Please be patient and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the downgrading process.
- After you have done it, restart your system to check if Windows 11 slow startup is still bothering you or not.
- This will allow you to increase the startup time of Windows computers with both SSD and HDD drives. As we have already declared, an HDD drive with more storage is better than an SSD drive with less storage space. All other aspects can be applied to each scenario.
That’s it, guys. We hope you found this guide useful. You can comment below if you have any questions.
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