How to fix slow boot times in Windows

Slow boot times on Windows waste time on every cold start and can be an early warning for overloaded startup apps, driver delays, disk errors, or failing storage.

During startup, Windows hands off from UEFI or BIOS to Windows Boot Manager, initializes drivers, starts services, and loads registered startup apps and scheduled tasks. A single high-impact startup entry or a slow storage path can add significant delays before the desktop becomes usable.

Startup tuning is safest when changes are reversible and measured. Disabling vendor utilities can remove device features, and clean-boot testing can temporarily disable security or VPN services, so a restore point and a repeatable boot-time check keep troubleshooting controlled.

Related: How to disable startup programs in Windows using Task Manager
Related: How to check a disk for errors in Windows

Steps to fix slow boot times in Windows:

  1. Create a restore point before changing startup behavior.

    System Protection snapshots system files and registry settings for quick rollback.

  2. Open Event Viewer to capture a baseline boot-time measurement.
  3. Open Applications and Services Logs → Microsoft → Windows → Diagnostics-Performance → Operational.
  4. Open the latest Event ID 100 entry and note the Boot Duration value.

    Boot Duration is reported in milliseconds.

  5. Open Task Manager.
  6. Open the Startup apps tab.
  7. Disable a non-essential app with high Startup impact.

    Disabling vendor tray apps can remove hotkeys, audio enhancements, or sync features.

  8. Uninstall unused apps from Settings → Apps → Installed apps to remove background updaters and services.

    Removing unused software typically has a larger effect than repeatedly disabling it.

  9. Open Control Panel → Power Options.
  10. Select Choose what the power buttons do.
  11. Clear Turn on fast startup (recommended) to test whether it reduces slow cold boots.

    Fast startup affects shutdown-to-boot, not Restart, and the option can be missing when hibernation is disabled.

  12. Shut down Windows to test a cold boot without Fast startup.
  13. Install pending updates from Settings → Windows Update.
  14. Restart Windows after updates finish installing.
  15. Open Device Manager to check for devices with warning icons or driver issues.
  16. Update a storage, chipset, or graphics device driver using Update driver.

    Boot delays commonly involve Storage controllers and platform System devices.

  17. Open Windows Terminal or Command Prompt as an administrator.
  18. Run a disk file-system scan to detect errors on the system drive. 
    C:\> chkdsk C: /scan
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Stage 1: Examining basic file system structure ...
##### snipped #####
Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems.
No further action is required.

    Use chkdsk C: /f to schedule an offline repair when errors are reported.

  19. Repair the Windows component store to fix corruption that can slow startup. 
    C:\> DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.22621.1

Image Version: 10.0.22621.1
##### snipped #####
The restore operation completed successfully.
The operation completed successfully.

    DISM can take several minutes and may use Windows Update as a repair source.

  20. Run the System File Checker to replace corrupted system files. 
    C:\> sfc /scannow
Beginning system scan.  This process will take some time.
##### snipped #####
Verification 100% complete.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  21. Optimize the system drive from Defragment and Optimize Drives.

    Optimize runs TRIM on SSDs and defragmentation on HDDs.

  22. Run a full malware scan from Windows Security.

    Microsoft Defender Offline scan is useful when malware loads early in the boot process.

  23. Perform a clean boot using msconfig to identify a third-party service that delays startup.

    A clean boot can disable security and VPN services; restore normal startup after testing.

  24. Consider upgrading to an SSD when Windows is installed on a mechanical HDD.

    An SSD typically delivers the largest improvement in boot responsiveness.

  25. Re-check Event ID 100 in Diagnostics-Performance to confirm the Boot Duration improvement.