Toshiba Laptop Running Slow: 5 Possible Causes and Fixes

If your Toshiba laptop is running slow, it could be due to too many unwanted programs running, insufficient memory, the presence of malware, a lack of storage space, or an out-of-date Windows. Thankfully, there are solutions that can help.

A slow laptop can be a really frustrating problem to deal with. Whether you are working, playing a game, or doing some homework, it can ruin the experience.

Whether you have a Toshiba Portege, or a Toshiba Tecra, this guide is going to go over some reasons why your computer may be slow, and the things you can do to fix the issue.

Key Takeaways

• When a Toshiba laptop is running slow, it is often due to an abundance of programs running, insufficient memory, malware on your computer, no free storage space, or an operating system that is out of date.

• Thankfully, there are many solutions that exist, such as closing the programs, adding more memory, removing malware, freeing up some storage space, and updating your operating system.

• If none of these seem to be the cause or the solutions don’t help improve the speed of your computer, consider reaching out to a professional for assistance.

1. Too Many Unwanted Programs Running

A common cause of a slow computer is when you have too many programs running on it at once. Your laptop only has a certain amount of computing power, and if you are running a dozen programs, it will clog up the resources and negatively impact performance.

Also, be aware of programs that open when you start up your laptop. Even if you didn’t actively open up a program or app doesn’t mean it’s not running. Being aware of these background processes is crucial to understanding why your computer may be slow.

The way to deal with this issue is to simply close down apps and programs when you are done with them and no longer need them open any more. This will free up computing power to focus on the things you do need.

If you think the problem could be due to background processes or programs, you simply open the Task Manager, find the program/process you want to end, right click it, and select End Task.

However, be careful not to end a task that is necessary to run your computer, as ending certain processes could freeze your computer or cause it to crash.

2. Insufficient Memory

A lack of memory within your Toshiba laptop could also lead to poor performance. The part of your computer that dictates how much it can do at a time is random-access memory (RAM). 

Computers with high RAM capacities can do a lot more (and with a lot more speed) than those with less RAM. If your RAM capacity is low, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when you can’t do much at once on the device before it begins to slow down and experience problems.

The solution here is to upgrade the RAM of your computer. These types of upgrades will cost a little bit of money but can be well worth it and far cheaper than purchasing a new computer outright.

You will need to replace or insert a physical component into your computer to upgrade your RAM so you need to be comfortable with some small DIY type of repairs to make this happen, or know someone who can do it for you.

Also, keep in mind that not all Toshiba laptops will have the ability to upgrade their RAM. As such, some are simply stuck with whatever RAM was included in the laptop originally.

3. Malware is Present on the Computer

Having malware on your laptop can cause harm in a variety of ways, including impacting its speed and performance. Your computer can get infected by downloading questionable files, clicking on links you shouldn’t have, and more.

Some malware will take up your memory, and leave you unable to do much of anything on your laptop. The fix to this issue is to simply remove the malware from the computer. This is done through the use of an anti-virus software that identifies the malware, and lets you remove it.

Once you have downloaded and installed the anti-virus program of your choice, you can easily run a virus scan for these issues and get them off of your computer.

If you use the built-in Microsoft Defender Antivirus, simply go to the Start menu > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Quick scan. The program will scan your device and let you know if any threats were found, and let you deal with them if any were found.

It is a good idea to run these scans every now and then, even if your computer isn’t experiencing issues, to make sure everything is all good behind the scenes.

4. Lack of Free Storage Space

In some cases, the amount of free storage space you have can influence how fast the computer runs. If your laptop has little to no storage space, it can lead to clunky performance at times. To check your storage space, go to Settings > System > Storage.

Your operating system needs free space to work properly without issues. If your computer is almost full, the operating system will struggle to find places to put new or temporary files.

If your computer is slow and your hard drive is nearly full, that could be your problem. Look through your hard drive and desktop for any files that are unused or unwanted and delete them from your computer. 

Simply go to the Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program. From the list, find the ones you want to delete, right-click, and press Uninstall.

If you prefer to save time doing this manually, you can also use some PC cleaner tools for efficiency.

5. Your Operating System is Out of Date

Finally, there is a chance that the issue is caused by the operating system of your computer being out of date. New updates frequently come out that address bugs, update drivers, and patch software.

If you are on an old version, you could be missing out on key fixes that help your computer perform better. Updating your operating system on Windows can be done by going to Settings > Windows Update, and click Check for updates.

If an update is discovered, download and install it. You will be required to restart your computer for the update to complete.

Whether you are still on Windows 10, or use Windows 11, you should make an effort to update as often as possible so you don’t miss out on new features or fixes that could be important to the performance or security of your Toshiba laptop.

FAQs

Here are a few common questions about Toshiba laptops running slowly, as well as their answers.

Why is my Toshiba laptop slow to boot up?

If your laptop is slow to boot up, it generally could be because you have too many programs starting up alongside Windows. If you simply reduce the number of programs starting, it should go quicker. Also, if you have an HDD, your laptop may start slower than one with an SSD.

Do laptops get slower over time?

Yes, in many cases a laptop will slow down as it ages. The components of the computer can become damaged or worn over time. Also, many programs and apps become more resource intensive over the years, and the specs of an older computer may not be up to snuff anymore.

Final Thoughts

A laptop running slowly can be an annoying situation. Whether it is caused by too many unwanted programs or a lack of free storage space, it can have a negative impact on your work, studying, or gaming experience.

If your Toshiba laptop is running slowly, trying these different solutions out can quickly and easily boost performance and get things up and running like normal again.

Which method do you think is the best for speeding up your Toshiba laptop? Let me know in a comment below.