Why Computers Slow Down — The Short Version

Computers slow down for predictable reasons: too many programs running in the background, a nearly-full storage drive, software that hasn't been updated, or a device that simply needs a restart. The good news is that every one of these is fixable without buying anything or calling a technician.

⚠️ WARNING: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. If you're still running Windows 10, Microsoft no longer provides security updates, which means your computer is increasingly vulnerable to security threats. Upgrading to Windows 11 is free for most Windows 10 computers — check compatibility at microsoft.com/windows/windows-11-requirements.

Fix #1: Restart Your Computer (Do It Weekly)

This sounds too simple to matter — but it genuinely fixes a large percentage of slowness complaints. Every application you use over days or weeks accumulates small memory allocations that never get fully released until the computer restarts. A weekly restart clears this slate completely.

💡 TIP: 'Sleep' and 'hibernate' don't count. A full shutdown and restart is what clears accumulated memory overhead. Set a weekly calendar reminder for Sunday evening and make it a habit.

Fix #2: Stop Programs from Starting Up Automatically (Windows)

When you install new software, it often quietly adds itself to your computer's startup sequence — so every time you turn on your computer, five or ten programs you rarely use are loading in the background, stealing memory and CPU before you've opened a single thing.

• Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager

• Click the 'Startup apps' tab (or 'Startup' in older Windows versions)

• Look at the 'Status' and 'Startup impact' columns

• Right-click any app you don't need at startup and choose 'Disable'

• Safe to disable: Spotify, Discord, Teams, Skype, OneDrive (if you don't need it), Adobe Creative Cloud, and most app launchers

• Do NOT disable: Windows Security, antivirus software, or anything labeled 'Windows' in the Publisher column

After making changes, restart your computer and notice the difference in startup speed.

Fix #3: Start Up and Login Items (Mac)

• Click the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Login Items

• Review the list under 'Open at Login'

• Click the minus (-) button to remove items you don't need launching at startup

• Also check 'Allow in the Background' — toggle off apps that don't need to run when you're not using them

Fix #4: Free Up Storage Space

When your hard drive is more than 85–90% full, your computer slows dramatically. The operating system needs free space to work — it's not optional.

Windows — Find and remove large files

Open Settings > System > Storage > 'Cleanup recommendations' — this shows what's safe to delete, including temporary files, downloads folder clutter, and the Windows recycling bin. Pay attention to the Downloads folder, which accumulates installers and documents most authors never clean.

Mac — Free up space

Click the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage. Look at the breakdown — 'Documents', 'Downloads', and 'Applications' are usually the biggest. Click Recommendations for options to move files to iCloud or remove large unused apps.

💡 TIP: Your Downloads folder is probably enormous. Open it right now and sort by size. You'll almost certainly find old software installers, PDF drafts, and random files that can be deleted immediately.

Fix #5: Update Your Software

Outdated software doesn't just mean missing features — it often means missing performance optimizations. Windows 11 and macOS both receive regular updates that include under-the-hood speed improvements.

• Windows: Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates

• Mac: System Settings > General > Software Update

• Also update your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) — browser updates include significant performance improvements

• Check for application updates for Word, Scrivener, and any other tools you use regularly

Fix #6: Browser Tabs and Extensions

Every open browser tab consumes memory. 40 open tabs in Chrome is equivalent to running 40 small applications simultaneously. Close tabs you're not actively using.

Browser extensions — the add-ons you've installed over the years — also consume memory even when you're not using them. In Chrome: click the three-dot menu > Extensions > Manage Extensions. Review your extensions and remove any you don't actively use.

💡 TIP: Matty McTech (@setupspawn on TikTok and YouTube, 5+ million followers) regularly covers simple, practical computer optimizations exactly like these — his 'Powerful Websites' series also includes free tools that can help with common author tasks. His approach: maximum result, minimum technical knowledge required.

How ScribeCount Helps

A slow computer means slow uploads to KDP, slow navigation in your publishing dashboards, and slower Scrivener performance. Fixing your computer's speed directly improves the efficiency of every platform interaction in your author business — including your ScribeCount session, which involves loading dashboards, reviewing charts, and exporting data.