Technology has made it possible for us to get what we need in an instant. With a few taps on a smartphone, we can transfer our funds or pay our bills. We don’t have to drive to the bank just to complete our financial transactions. There are plenty of things we can do online, including booking flights, watching movies, and more.

We live in a fast-paced world, and it is only reasonable for us to have the tools necessary to keep up with the times. So, there is no room for a slow Windows 10 PC. We always have to upgrade to adapt to the changes. However, what if instead of improving your computer’s speed, a Windows update causes it to slow down?

Don’t worry because we are here to help. In this post, we are going to teach you how to fix Windows 10’s slowdown after installing updates. Try working your way down the list until you find the solution that works best for you.

Why Is Windows 10 Getting Slow After Windows Updates?

Microsoft regularly rolls out cumulative updates to improve Windows 10’s performance and security. However, there are times when updates cause more problems than enhancements to the operating system. Now, there are various reasons why this could happen. It’s possible that the update has damaged or corrupted certain system files. On the other hand, the issue may have nothing to do with the recent update. Keep in mind that malware can also slow down your PC to a crawl.

Whatever the cause of the issue may be, you can use this guide to learn how to fix a slow Windows OS after an update.

Solution 1: Installing Any Available Hotfix for Windows 10

Usually, Windows releases patches that will take care of the latest bugs plaguing the operating system. So, you should check if Microsoft has released a hotfix for the issue. Here’s what you can do:

  1. Press Windows Key+I on your keyboard to launch the Settings app.
  2. Once the Settings app is open, select Update & Security.
  3. Go to the left-pane menu, then click Windows Update.
  4. Now, move to the right pane, then click Check for Updates.

If the tool finds any available updates, download them. Once the process is complete, restart your computer to install the hotfix.

Solution 2: Checking for Malware

Sometimes, when a Windows 10 computer performs slowly, it has nothing to do with updates. In some cases, malware infection is the reason behind a computer’s poor performance. So, you need to run a deep scan and remove/quarantine any threats. To do this, you can follow the instructions below:

  1. Press Windows Key on your keyboard, then type “Windows Security” (no quotes).
  2. Select Windows Security from the results.
  3. On the left-pane menu, click Virus & Threat Protection.
  4. Go to the right pane, then select Full Scan.
  5. Click Scan Now to begin the process.

Let the built-in anti-virus locate and handle any malware it finds. That said, you shouldn’t rely solely on this tool. Sometimes, it can miss the latest and most inconspicuous threats. So, we recommend that you use a comprehensive security tool like Auslogics Anti-Malware. This utility can detect malware no matter how discreetly it operates in the background.

Solution 3: Repairing Damaged or Corrupted System Files

Windows Update can get stuck from time to time, and when this happens, the utility can damage certain system files. Consequently, your PC will start performing slowly. If worse comes to worst, your computer may even freeze or crash. So, we recommend that you repair or replace the damaged system files. To do that, you need to perform SFC and DISM scans. We’ll show the steps below:

  1. Go to your taskbar, then click the Search icon.
  2. Inside the Search box, type “Command Prompt” (no quotes).
  3. Right-click Command Prompt from the results, then select Run as Administrator.
  4. If prompted to give permission to the app, click Yes.
  5. Once Command Prompt is up, type “sfc /scannow” (no quotes), then hit Enter.

When the process begins, make sure you keep Command Prompt open. You should also avoid interrupting the repair process. It may take a while to complete, so you must patiently wait.

Once the process is complete, you will see the results of the scan. If the tool does not find any corrupted files, you should see the following message:

“Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.”

Now, if you want to view the SFC log, you can follow the steps below:

  1. Launch Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
  2. Inside Command Prompt, execute the following command line:

findstr /c:”[SR]” %windir%LogsCBSCBS.log >”%userprofile%Desktopsfclogs.txt”

Note: This command line creates an sfclogs.txt file that will be stored on your desktop.

  • Go to your desktop, then open the sfclogs.txt file to view the SFC log.

If your computer is still slow after the SFC scan, the next thing you should do is perform a DISM scan. Here are the steps:

  • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
  • Once Command Prompt comes up, execute the following command line:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Once the repair process begins, you should not interrupt it. It may take more than ten minutes to complete, and once it is done, you can restart your computer.


Solution 4: Performing a System Restore

If the latest updates are indeed what caused the slowdown, using System Restore would be the best solution. This tool will bring back your operating system to a perfectly functioning state. Keep in mind that the updates will be removed once you do this. That said, you can simply wait for new updates from Microsoft to fix any bugs. Here are the steps:

  1. On your keyboard, press Windows Key+S. Doing so will bring up the Search bar.
  2. Inside the Search bar, type “System Restore” (no quotes).
  3. Select Create a Restore Point from the results.
  4. On the new window, click System Restore.
  5. Select the ‘Show more restore points’ option.
  6. Select a restore point wherein the issue did not exist.
  7. Click Next.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the system restore process. Once it is done, check if your PC is performing faster.

Pro Tip: An overloaded cache and junk files may also affect a computer’s performance. So, we recommend that you use Auslogics BoostSpeed to keep your device in tip-top shape. This tool can safely wipe out unneeded files. You can also use it to tweak non-optimal system settings and defrag your drives. After using BoostSpeed, you will notice a significant improvement in your PC’s performance.

Deleting unused files can also be an effective way to speed uo your Windows 10.

What other update-related issues would you like us to fix?

Let us know in the comments below!