5 Proven Tips to Speed Up Windows 11 Startup

Windows 11 has a reputation for being sleek and modern, but let's face it—sometimes it can stumble out of the gate when booting up. Instead of twiddling your thumbs waiting for your system to come alive, there are some effective tactics you can try that don’t involve shelling out for new hardware. Here’s an in-depth look at actionable tips to speed things up, why they work, and the underlying tech at play.

1. Disable Startup Programs: Stop the Bootup Bloat​

You might not realize it, but some programs sneakily set themselves up to launch automatically when you power up your PC. This can lead to a bottleneck where multiple applications compete for resources during boot time. Think of it as trying to leave a stadium when everyone rushes for the exit at the same time—chaos ensues.

How to Disable Startup Programs​

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
• Navigate to the Startup Apps tab (on the left-hand side).
• Review the list of applications. Focus on those with “High” impact in the Startup Impact column.
• Right-click any unwanted app and select Disable.

Keep this in mind though—only disable programs you recognize! Avoid touching anything essential like antivirus tools or background services.

Why This Works​

Windows prioritizes initializing startup programs over user-facing processes during booting. Disabling unnecessary apps allows your CPU and storage to focus their energy on loading essential parts of the operating system instead.

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2. Fast Startup: A Double-Edged Sword​

Windows introduced Fast Startup back in the Windows 8 era to combine the best of a cold boot and hibernation. The system saves essential processes to a specific file, known as hiberfile.sys, so it doesn’t have to fully reload the kernel and drivers when you switch it back on.
Sounds great, right? Well, not always. While Fast Startup can boost performance for many users, it sometimes causes compatibility issues or hardware quirks that slow things down instead.

Enabling or Disabling Fast Startup​

1. Open the Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
3. Click on Choose what the power buttons do on the left menu.
4. Look for "Turn on Fast Startup" under the Shutdown settings section.
   • If enabled, try disabling it. If disabled, try enabling it.
5. Save your changes.

Understanding Fast Startup’s Magic (or Misery)​

• Pro: It speeds things up by skipping certain boot tasks, thanks to partial hibernation.
• Con: Some hardware drivers (especially older ones) might not play nice with it, causing delays.

The practical takeaway? Test your system’s performance with both settings to see which gives a better result.

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3. Reduce Operating System Timeout​

If you’re dual-booting Windows alongside another OS (like Linux or an older Windows version), you’re probably familiar with the bootloader menu asking, “Which operating system do you want to start?” By default, Windows gives you 30 seconds to make up your mind. That's an eternity in the world of impatient users.

How to Trim This Timeout​

• Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type sysdm.cpl and hit Enter to open System Properties.
• Choose the Advanced tab, then click Settings under the "Startup and Recovery" section.
• Look for "Time to display list of operating systems" and reduce it from 30 seconds to something like 5 or 10 seconds.
• Click OK to save.

What’s Happening Here?​

When you reduce the timeout, the system automatically selects the default OS faster, saving precious seconds for those who never actually use the menu.

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4. Uninstall Useless Applications: Declutter Your System​

This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how much unnecessary software lurks on your system. Many pre-installed programs (also known as Bloatware) and apps you no longer use can consume resources during background operations—even when you’re not using them actively.

Steps to Declutter Your System​

1. Open Settings using Windows + I.
2. Navigate to Apps > Installed Apps.
3. Review the list, then uninstall anything you no longer use.

Pro Tip: Use a dedicated uninstall tool like Revo Uninstaller or IObit Uninstaller to remove leftover files and registry entries. These remnants can linger and still occupy storage.

Why This Helps​

Although these “unused” apps don’t directly impact your boot time, they often set themselves up to sync or update in the background later on. Getting rid of them now reduces clutter and prevents future slowdowns.

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5. Free Up Space on Your SSD​

Modern SSDs are lightning fast, but they can hit a performance wall when nearly full. Here’s why: SSD controllers manage flash storage like a chessboard. They need free squares (blocks) to shuffle data around efficiently, a process known as wear leveling. When your SSD is at capacity, the controller struggles to find enough free space for these operations, leading to slower writes—and sometimes even reads.

Actionable Tips to Free Space​

1. Use Disk Cleanup or third-party tools like CCleaner to delete temporary files.
2. Move large media files to an external drive or cloud storage.
3. Check the Downloads folder for forgotten files taking up precious GBs.

The SSD Boot-Time Connection​

While the main bottleneck for boot speed is usually your CPU and RAM, SSDs do play a vital role during the boot process. For instance, Windows might need to write log files, update its registry, or finalize installations during startup—tasks that leverage the SSD’s write performance.

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Bonus Tips for the Brave of Heart​

If you’re hungry for even more performance tweaks, consider these advanced options:

• Update Drivers: Ensure your storage and chipset drivers are up to date. Manufacturers like Intel and AMD provide better-optimized drivers than what comes preinstalled.
• BIOS Settings: Dive into your motherboard’s BIOS and enable features like UEFI or disabling legacy boot mode. Proceed with caution though—mistakes here can disrupt the system entirely.
• Minimal Visual Effects: Go for a Windows “classic” feel by turning off unnecessary UI animations. Bonus: More resources get redirected toward essential tasks.

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Final Thoughts​

While upgrading hardware like adding RAM, switching to a better SSD, or even upgrading your processor can turbocharge your system, sometimes all you need is a careful audit of what’s bogging it down. By combining these tips, you'll breathe a new sense of urgency into your Windows 11 PC’s startup without spending a penny.
As always, share your experience or other tips that have worked for you! Your insights might help out fellow WindowsForum.com members struggling with slow boot times. Ready, set, boot!

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Source: XDA 5 ways to make Windows 11 boot faster without new hardware