You sit down to check your email. Or maybe you want to video chat with the grandkids. But your computer has other ideas. It whirs, it lags, the cursor crawls across the screen. Sound familiar?
Restarting usually helps a little. But Reader’s Digest has a more useful idea already sitting on your computer: a built-in tool that can tell you why things are sluggish. You do not need to be a tech wizard to use it.
What Is This Tool, and Where Do You Find It?
On a Windows PC, it is called the Task Manager, and the part you want is the Performance tab. On a Mac, it is called the Activity Monitor. Both tools track what your computer is doing behind the scenes and they are free and already installed.
Here is how to open them:
On a Windows PC: Right-click on the Start button and select Task Manager. Then click the Performance tab on the left, it looks like a small line graph. Or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc all at once to jump straight there.
On a Mac: Hold the Command key and press the space bar. Type Activity Monitor and hit return. Or open Finder, go to the menu bar at the top, and choose Go > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
What Are You Looking At?
Both tools show five main things that affect how your computer runs. Here is what each one means in plain language:
- CPU usage: This is your computer’s brain. If it is working too hard, everything slows down.
- Memory (RAM): Think of this as your computer’s short-term memory. When you open apps, stream video, or play a game, RAM holds what the computer needs right now. Too many things open at once can fill it up fast.
- Disk space: This is your computer’s long-term storage: where your photos, files, and documents live. When it gets too full, the whole machine can slow to a crawl.
- Network processes: If your internet connection is slow or stuck, this will show up here. It is not about the computer itself, but a bad connection can make everything feel sluggish.
- GPU usage: This is your graphics card: what handles videos, games, and everything you see on screen. Heavy use can bog things down.
What Should You Do With What You See?
Once the tool is open and your computer is running slowly, here is where to start:
CPU running hot? On a PC, click the Processes tab to see which apps are using the most power. On a Mac, click the CPU column in Activity Monitor. Close anything you are not actively using, then restart. Apps that hog resources can often be updated or uninstalled.
Memory nearly full? Close extra browser tabs, apps, and programs you are not using right now. Today’s web browsers use far more memory than they used to. Restarting helps clear things out. If this keeps happening, you may need more RAM.
Disk space low? Delete old files, videos, and photos you no longer need. Run your computer’s built-in disk cleanup tool to clear out temporary files. If your computer still has an older spinning hard drive, switching to a solid-state drive can make a noticeable difference.
GPU running high? Close video games and any graphics-heavy programs or browser windows. Restart. If the problem keeps coming back, your graphics card may need an update.
Network issues? Pause any downloads or streaming that might be stuck. Restart your computer and your router or modem. Then run a speed test from your internet provider to see what is actually happening with your connection.
A Few More Quick Fixes Worth Trying
Even without diving into the Performance tab or Activity Monitor, these steps can speed things up on their own:
- Restart your computer. It clears out temporary files and closes background processes that may have gotten stuck.
- Close what you are not using. Extra browser tabs and open apps eat up memory even when you are not looking at them.
- Scan for viruses. Malware can cause slowdowns. Windows has Microsoft Defender Antivirus built in. On a Mac, Apple’s protection runs automatically in the background.
- Install updates when they appear. Software and operating system updates do more than add new features, they can fix bugs and security gaps that drag performance down.
Your computer is not hopeless. Sometimes a few small adjustments are all it takes to get things running smoothly again, and now you know exactly where to look.
