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If Your Computer Is Acting Sluggish, This Secret Menu Could Have the Answers

There’s nothing more frustrating than a slow, sluggish computer. You know what I’m talking about: the lags, the cursor that refuses to cooperate, the loud fan whirring as you wait for it to boot up or open programs. All you want to do is check your email, play a game or finish up a work project, and suddenly your once-speedy computer thinks it’s 1999 again.

I’m a big believer in the restart. Taking a cue from the call-center employee whose first suggestion to any technical problem is to “unplug it and plug it back in,” I always restart my computer when it’s slow, and this does occasionally work. But other than that, I’m usually flying blind. I’m not the most technical person in the world, so what else can I do?

Well, there is something, and it’s right on my computer—and yours. While it won’t magically fix a lagging laptop (or desktop either), this secret menu can help diagnose problems and arm you with valuable information you can use to take further steps. And luckily, it doesn’t take a tech genius to take a peek under the hood, so to speak. Read on to learn all the insider intel.

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What is the secret menu that can diagnose a slow computer?

On Windows PCs, it’s the Performance tab within your computer’s Task Manager app. On Macs, it’s called the Activity Monitor. Both apps track computer operations that are running in the background, as well as storage capacity and other key performance issues. They’re filled with valuable information that can help you figure out why your tech is bogging down for no apparent reason.

What, exactly, do they tell you?

Both the Windows Performance tab and the Mac Activity Monitor capture tons of processes, but the five main ones that are helpful for diagnosing a slow computer are:

  • CPU usage: Your computer’s Central Processing Unit runs applications and software, performs calculations and generally acts as the “brain” of your computer. High CPU usage isn’t always bad, but if it’s high during certain operations, it could be a clue as to why your computer is dragging.
  • Memory (RAM): Random-access memory is your computer’s short-term memory. When you open an app, stream a movie or play a game, RAM is where your computer stores the data and files that the CPU needs right away while the application is in use.
  • Disk space: Your disk drive or hard drive is your computer’s long-term memory, where files, photos and other things that are not needed while applications are running are stored. But it can also store shorter-term files, especially if the RAM is inadequate.
  • Network processes: This information doesn’t pertain to your physical computer, per se, but a slow network connection can definitely be a reason it isn’t working as fast as it should on processes that require the internet.
  • GPU usage: This is your graphics processing unit, aka graphics card. It’s what’s needed to quickly render videos, movies, games and other graphics-heavy applications, as well as process your computer’s overall visuals.

How do you find these menus?

It’s easy, but there are few ways to get there, depending on your operating system.

Open the Performance tab on Windows computers

  • Use the Start button: Right-click on the Start button, select Task Manager and then navigate to the Performance tab on the left (it looks like a line graph).
  • Use the taskbar: Right-click on an empty part of the taskbar, select Task Manager and navigate to the Performance tab.
  • Use keyboard shortcuts: Hit Cntl + Shift + Esc at the same time to bring up the Task Manager directly. Alternatively, you can use Cntl + Alt + Del, and then select Task Manager from the menu.

Open the Activity Monitor on a Mac

  • Use Spotlight search: Hit the Command button and the space bar, then type in Activity Monitor and hit return. You can also find Spotlight by clicking the magnifying glass in the top right corner of your screen.
  • Use Finder: Open Finder on your dock, then go to the toolbar across the top and select Go > Utilities > Activity Monitor. If Finder is not in your dock, click any empty space on your desktop and the Finder toolbar will appear.
  • Use the Apps icon: Select the Apps icon from your dock, then type in Activity Monitor and hit return. Apps is a dedicated apps launcher within Spotlight that rolled out with the Tahoe update, but if you are running an older version you’ll know it as Launchpad.
  • Use a keyboard shortcut: Hit Fn + Shift + A to bring up the Apps search directly.

What are you looking for?

There’s a lot of information in the Performance tab and Activity Monitor, and some of the more technical fixes are beyond the scope of this article. But you can start with some basic troubleshooting. When your computer is running slowly, open the Task Manager or Activity Monitor and be ready to jot down what you see.

Here are some top line things to look for and correct or research further.

High CPU usage

Temporary spikes are not necessarily concerning, but if your CPU is consistently running near the maximum, the fan is loud or your computer is just plain slow, click over to the Processes tab on a PC (right above the Performance tab) or click the CPU column on a Mac. Close any resource-heavy apps that you’re not using, then restart and recheck.

Update or reinstall apps that continually use too many resources, and disable apps that start up automatically so they’re not constantly running in the background. You can also try cleaning your computer’s fan and vents with compressed air.

Low disk space and RAM

Heavy RAM usage often indicates too many things are running at once. Close apps you’re not using as well as browsers and/or excessive tabs that are open. Today’s browsers are much bigger resource hogs than they used to be, constantly loading and running videos, background scripts and ads. Restart. If the problem persists, consider adding more RAM.

If disk space is low, get rid of files, videos and images you no longer need. Close apps you’re not using, clear up space by running your computer’s disk cleanup function, and consider upgrading to a solid state drive instead of an older hard drive.

High GPU usage

If your Activity Monitor or Performance tab shows high graphics-card usage, close video games and graphics-heavy apps and browsers. Restart your computer. If you continue to see that the GPU usage is high, you may need to update your graphics card.

Network problems

If you’re having network connectivity problems, it’s always worth it to stop any downloads or heavy streaming activities that could be hung up. Restart your computer, make sure your router and/or modem are online, and run a speed test from your internet provider.

What else can you do to fix a slow computer?

It’s worth trying some general fixes. Here are more tips that can help speed up your PC or Mac.

  • Restart your computer. Yes, it sounds basic, but restarting does give your computer a little refresh by clearing out temporary files and closing background processes that might be hung up.
  • Close any programs you’re not using. Close extra tabs, browsers and apps. Change your startup settings so you don’t have a lot of programs running in the background that you’re not using.
  • Scan for malware. Viruses and malware can cause slowdowns, so run an antivirus program like Microsoft Defender Antivirus. For a Mac, Apple’s protection is built in and runs automatically.
  • Keep your computer updated. When your computer says you have software or operating-system updates available, download them. Recommended patches and anti-virus updates not only keep you safe from hackers—they can speed up a slow computer too.

Sources:

  • Microsoft: “Troubleshoot processes by using Task Manager”
  • Apple: “Activity Monitor user guide”
  • Apple: “If your Mac runs slowly”
  • Dell Technologies: “How to improve performance on a slow Dell computer or laptop”
  • Microsoft: “System configuration tools in Windows”
  • Intel: “Why is my computer running slow?”
  • Cnet: “These could be slowing down your computer”
  • Microsoft: “High CPU usage troubleshooting guidance”

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