How to Make Startup Faster in Windows 11: Tips for a Speed Boost

By / September 20, 2025

Do you feel like your Windows 11 PC takes forever to boot up? You’re not alone. A slow startup can be frustrating, especially when you just want to jump into work, gaming, or browsing. The good news is that there are simple yet powerful tweaks you can apply to make startup faster in Windows 11.

In this guide, we’ll explore practical tips, hidden settings, and proven methods to reduce boot time and speed up your system. Whether you’re on a laptop or desktop, these steps will help you enjoy a smoother, quicker Windows 11 experience.

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Startup delays are often caused by too many startup programs, unnecessary services, or outdated drivers.

  • Windows 11 has built-in features like Fast Startup and Startup Manager to help you.

  • Cleaning up background processes and optimizing hardware settings gives a noticeable speed boost.

  • A mix of software tweaks and hardware upgrades can dramatically reduce boot time.

Why Does Windows 11 Boot Slowly?

Before fixing the issue, let’s understand why your system may be slow to start:

  • Too many startup apps launching at boot.

  • Outdated drivers slowing system initialization.

  • Background services running unnecessarily.

  • Fragmented or failing hard drive (especially on HDDs).

  • Heavy antivirus scans on startup.

  • Disabled Fast Startup feature.

  • Low memory (RAM) or older hardware struggling with Windows 11.

How to Make Startup Faster in Windows 11: Step-by-Step Tips

Let’s dive into the most effective methods.

Method 1: Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

Startup apps are one of the biggest culprits for slow boot times.

Steps:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

  2. Go to the Startup apps tab.

  3. Look at the Startup impact column (High, Medium, Low).

  4. Right-click unnecessary apps and choose Disable.

👉 Example: Disable Spotify, Teams, or Adobe Updater unless you need them immediately after boot.

Method 2: Enable Fast Startup

Fast Startup combines hibernation and shutdown to speed up booting.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type powercfg.cpl, and hit Enter.

  2. Click Choose what the power buttons do.

  3. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable.

  4. Under Shutdown settings, check Turn on fast startup.

  5. Save changes.

⚠️ Note: Fast Startup doesn’t work well with some dual-boot systems, so disable it if issues occur.

Method 3: Update Windows and Drivers

Outdated drivers or system updates can cause delays.

Steps:

  1. Go to Settings > Windows Update.

  2. Install all pending updates.

  3. For drivers, open Device Manager → Right-click a device → Update driver.

  4. For GPUs, download updates directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.

Method 4: Disable Startup Services with MSConfig

Some background services run unnecessarily.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.

  2. Go to the Services tab.

  3. Check Hide all Microsoft services (to avoid disabling essential ones).

  4. Uncheck unnecessary services (e.g., third-party updaters).

  5. Restart your PC.

Method 5: Free Up Storage Space

Low disk space slows down startup significantly.

Steps:

  1. Open Settings > System > Storage.

  2. Enable Storage Sense to auto-delete temp files.

  3. Use Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr) for system junk.

  4. Move large files to external storage or OneDrive.

👉 Keep at least 15-20% free disk space for smooth performance.

Method 6: Defragment or Optimize Your Drive

  • If you have an HDD, defragment it regularly.

  • If you have an SSD, optimize (TRIM) instead.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + S, search Defragment and Optimize Drives.

  2. Select your drive and click Optimize.

Method 7: Turn Off Visual Effects

Fancy animations can slow older PCs.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.

  2. Go to Advanced > Performance Settings.

  3. Choose Adjust for best performance or customize by disabling unnecessary effects (like animations).

Method 8: Increase Virtual Memory

Virtual memory acts as backup RAM when physical memory is low.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + S, search Advanced system settings.

  2. Under Performance > Settings > Advanced, click Change under Virtual Memory.

  3. Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size.

  4. Select your system drive → Set Custom size (1.5x your RAM for Initial, 3x for Maximum).

  5. Save and restart.

Method 9: Scan for Malware

Malware can inject startup processes.

  • Run Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Quick Scan.

  • Use tools like Malwarebytes for deeper scans.

Method 10: Upgrade to SSD

If you’re still on an HDD, upgrading to an SSD is the most effective way to speed up startup.

  • Windows boots 3–5 times faster on SSDs.

  • Apps and games load instantly.

Method 11: Add More RAM

Low memory causes slow startups.

  • 8GB RAM is the sweet spot for casual users.

  • 16GB+ RAM recommended for gaming and multitasking.

Method 12: Use Hibernate Instead of Shutdown

If you work with multiple apps, hibernation lets you resume faster.

Steps:

  1. Open Control Panel > Power Options.

  2. Enable Hibernate under power settings.

Method 13: Clean the Registry

A bloated registry can affect startup.

  • Use tools like CCleaner (free version) to clean invalid entries.

  • Backup before making changes.

Method 14: Disable Background Apps

Steps:

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.

  2. For each app, go to Advanced options.

  3. Under Background app permissions, select Never.

Method 15: Reset or Reinstall Windows (Last Resort)

If nothing works, resetting Windows may help.

Steps:

  1. Go to Settings > System > Recovery.

  2. Select Reset this PC.

  3. Choose Keep my files or Remove everything.

Pros and Cons of Speeding Up Startup

Pros Cons
Faster boot times May disable useful apps/services
Improved performance Risk of misconfiguring settings
Longer battery life on laptops Some fixes require hardware upgrades

Final Thoughts

Speeding up startup in Windows 11 doesn’t require magic — just smart optimizations. Start with disabling unnecessary startup apps and enabling Fast Startup, then move on to storage cleanup, driver updates, and visual effect tweaks.

For maximum results, consider hardware upgrades like SSDs and more RAM. A few adjustments can give your PC a noticeable speed boost and make startup nearly instant.

FAQs About Making Startup Faster in Windows 11

1. What is the fastest way to reduce boot time in Windows 11?
Disabling unnecessary startup programs and enabling Fast Startup are the quickest fixes.

2. Does upgrading to SSD really make Windows 11 boot faster?
Yes, an SSD can reduce boot time from minutes to seconds.

3. Should I disable all startup apps?
No, only disable apps you don’t need immediately (keep antivirus enabled).

4. How much RAM do I need for smooth startup in Windows 11?
At least 8GB, though 16GB is ideal for multitasking.

5. Can viruses slow down startup?
Yes, malware often runs hidden startup processes. Scanning with Windows Security helps.

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