Your laptop runs like a dream until you try to launch an app on it. That’s when the fans start running at hyper speed. It sounds like your computer is about to take off into outer space.

Soon after that happens, the app crashes, and your computer freezes. It might be best for you to take it to a repair shop.

Better yet, can you fix your broken laptop?

Multiple things could be causing your computer’s struggle. You might be able to fix it by opening up the machine and clearing out all the dust.

If that doesn’t work, there are a bunch of other quick fixes that you can try before you take it to a professional. Keep reading to learn more.

1. Upgrade Your RAM

RAM stands for random access memory. In a way, it’s the brains of your entire laptop. If you don’t have enough of it, your machine won’t be able to handle all the tasks that you require of it.

The computer will freeze up just by opening five taps in Chrome. If you have a standard computer model, it probably comes with at least four gigs of RAM.

If you’re trying to run AAA gaming titles or do any extensive video editing, that’s not going to be enough. The good news is that you can open your computer up and upgrade your RAM to 8 or 16 gigs to make it better for your needs.

There’s something you need to keep in mind before you start shopping around. Not all laptops allow for upgrades. In some cases, you can’t even open the back panel to get to all the working parts.

2. Reduce Your Startup Programs

Start-up programs open up when you turn the computer on. Having one or two going isn’t going to slow the machine down too much. If you have any more than that, it will take a toll on the computer design.

Your laptop can only keep track of a certain number of things at once. The more startup programs you have, the more the machine will struggle with booting up.

The worst part is that you don’t even need half of those programs for your computer to function. Stop them in their tracks by opening your task manager.

Go to the startup tab in task manager to see everything that opens when you turn on the laptop. Right-click on the ones that aren’t important and hit that disable button. That should cut your computer’s bootup time in half.

3. Clean It Out

Now it’s time to clean your laptop. Literally, clean it out. If you’re like many people, you use your computer while you’re snacking on chips and other goodies.

The crumbs can land in your laptop keys and cause some serious issues. Turning your laptop upside-down and giving it a good shake will get rid of any of the large pieces of debris. For the smaller crumbs, you can use cleaning slime or canned air.

Once that’s clean, it’s time to move on to the inside of the computer. Take your laptop to your garage and turn it upside down. There should be a panel that you can take off with a screwdriver.

Once you remove it, you’ll see all your computer’s components and probably an impressive layer of dust. You can blow it away with a can of compressed air.

Remember, not all laptops open from the back. If your PC doesn’t have a removable panel, you can spray a can of compressed air at the fans. It’s not a perfect solution, but it will get rid of some of the dust.

4. Battery Fixes

Part of what makes laptops one of the most popular types of computer is their portability. It gives you the power to work from the comfort of your couch or your favorite coffee shop.

There is one fear that all laptop owners face, however. It’s that inevitable moment when you have to start searching around for a power outlet. The longer you can use your laptop before that happens, the better.

The problem is that as a laptop gets older, its ability to hold a charge goes down. There are a couple of things that you can try out if your computer can’t hold a charge.

First, check all your cable connections. If any of your charging cables are loose, that would be why your battery isn’t getting any juice.

If everything seems good to go on that front, let your laptop’s battery deplete all the way before you charge it back up. Doing that is the equivalent of giving the computer a much-needed nap.

If your laptop still doesn’t keep a charge for long after that, it’s a sign that you need to replace the entire battery.

5. Get an SSD

When it comes to computer storage solutions, you’ve got two options. You can go with a regular hard drive or get a standard state drive.

The SSD is a lot more expensive but it’s faster than a hard drive, and it can hold as much space. Most laptops that you can buy have the former option, but you can always make an upgrade.

As soon as you put the SSD into your computer, your apps will run more smoothly. Your files will open without hesitation, and your laptop will use a lot less power. Even if you’re using an older PC, an SSD can breathe new life into it.

6. Gain Access to the Internet

A common issue that laptops have is disconnecting from the internet randomly. It’s a major annoyance when you’re trying to get things done.

On many PC models, there’s an actual wireless switch on it. If it’s on the off position, you won’t be able to load a single webpage. If the switch is on and you’re still having issues, unplug your router, wait 15-20 seconds, and plug it back in.

Once the router boots back up, try the internet on your laptop again. If that still didn’t help, delete the network connection from the computer and reestablish it. Make sure all your settings are correct before confirming.

7. Defrag the Drive

Hard drives aren’t only slow. They can also become fragmented. The more you use your computer, the more cluttered and fragmented the drives will become.

It’s an inevitable part of laptop ownership. The good news is that it’s not too hard to fix the problem. All you have to do is type defrag in your computer’s start bar.

When the box pops up, click the optimize button. You’ll need to have a little patience. The process can take a while to complete, but when it’s done, your computer should run a lot smoother.

8. Update the OS

Every once in a while, you’ll get a notification in the corner of your laptop screen letting you know that the new OS is available. This notification never comes at an opportune time, but you shouldn’t ignore it.

Putting off the installation can be dangerous for your system. Developers spend their time looking for security holes and other issues and release the fixes in these OS updates.

If you are bad about forgetting to update your system, we recommend setting up automatic updates. This way, your computer is always sporting the newest software.

9. Kick Malware and Viruses to the Curb

If you’ve tried out all the methods mentioned above and your computer is still running slow, you may have a virus on your hands. These annoyances don’t only pose a major security risk. They can also bog down your machine.

If you haven’t already, download antivirus software. From there, do a quick scan of your entire system. If the program finds anything, do a more thorough full scan.

You’ll want to perform this process at least once a week or more.

10. Stop Programs Working in the Background

Again, the more programs you have going on, the more of a strain it’s going to put on your computer system. Give your laptop a break by stopping any unnecessary programs that you have going on in the background.

To do this, go to your computer’s settings and head to the privacy menu. On the left of this menu, you’ll see Background apps. If the “let apps run in the background” option is set to on, toggle it off.

Fix Up Your Broken Laptop

Is your PC running slower than you would like? Instead of taking your broken laptop to a repair store, try out a few fixes on your own first. You’ll be surprised at what a simple defrag and a few upgrades can do.

For more tips that will help you keep your laptop going for years to come, feel free to explore the rest of our blog.