Slow boot times in Windows 11 can be frustrating, especially when you expect a modern PC to reach the lock screen quickly. While Windows 11 is designed to start faster than older versions, real world boot delays are usually caused by startup apps, power settings, background services, or storage and firmware configuration. The good news is that you can often improve boot time significantly without reinstalling Windows or buying a new computer.

Quick Answer: What are the best ways to speed up Windows 11 boot time?

The most effective fixes are: disable unnecessary startup apps, enable Fast Startup, reduce background load, update drivers and Windows, and check disk health. If boot is still slow, reviewing BIOS/UEFI settings and storage performance can help.

Step 1: Turn Off Unnecessary Startup Applications

Startup applications are one of the most common reasons Windows 11 takes a long time to boot. Many apps silently register themselves to launch at sign-in, increasing the time it takes to become usable.

What to do:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Click Startup apps.
Review the Startup impact column.
Right-click any nonessential item and select Disable.

Disable candidates: game launchers, auto-updaters, chat clients you do not need at boot, printer helper apps, and OEM utilities you do not use.

Do not disable: security software, touchpad drivers, audio drivers, GPU control services you rely on, and anything you do not recognize.

Step 2: Turn On Fast Startup in Windows 11

Fast Startup uses a hybrid shutdown method that can reduce boot time by saving key system state information. On many systems, enabling this provides a noticeable improvement, particularly compared to a full cold boot.

What to do:

Press Windows + R, type control, then press Enter.
Open Power Options.
Select Choose what the power buttons do.
Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
Check Turn on fast startup (recommended).
Click Save changes.

Note: If you dual boot Linux or frequently change hardware, Fast Startup can sometimes cause issues because it does not fully shut down Windows. If you notice problems, test with it off and compare.

Step 3: Use Sleep and Modern Standby Wisely (When Appropriate)

If your workflow allows it, Sleep can feel dramatically faster than booting from a full shutdown. Many modern laptops and desktops with SSD storage can wake from sleep in seconds, and manufacturers often optimize systems around this behavior.

Use Sleep for short breaks.
Use Restart after major updates or driver installations.
Use full Shut down occasionally to clear state and apply certain changes.

Step 4: Check Boot Time and Identify the Bottleneck

Before changing advanced settings, measure what Windows reports.

Open Task Manager and go to Startup apps.
Look for Last BIOS time (top-right on many systems).

How to interpret it: If Last BIOS time is high, the delay is before Windows loads and may be related to BIOS/UEFI settings, hardware initialization, or connected devices. If BIOS time is normal but Windows is slow after sign-in, startup apps and services are more likely to blame.

Step 5: Update Windows, Drivers, and Firmware

Outdated drivers and firmware can slow boot or cause delays during device initialization.

Go to Settings then Windows Update and install pending updates.
Check Optional updates for driver updates (use caution and prefer vendor drivers for GPUs).
Visit your PC or motherboard manufacturer website for BIOS/UEFI and chipset updates.

Step 6: Improve Storage and System Health (No Reinstall Required)

Storage performance has a major impact on boot speed. Even with an SSD or NVMe drive, you can still see slow boots if the drive is nearly full or has issues.

Keep at least 15 to 20 percent of your system drive free.
Run Storage Sense (Settings, System, Storage) to clean temporary files.
Check drive health using the manufacturer tool (for SSD) or Windows error checking.

If you are still using a traditional hard drive, moving Windows to an SSD or NVMe SSD is usually the biggest upgrade for boot time. Also, if your system frequently hits high memory usage during login, adding more RAM can reduce startup thrashing and improve responsiveness.

Step 7: Advanced BIOS/UEFI Checks (Optional)

If your system spends a long time before Windows even starts loading, review firmware options with care.

Enable Fast Boot in BIOS/UEFI (if available).
Reduce boot device scanning and set your OS drive first in boot order.
Disconnect unnecessary USB devices to test whether a peripheral is slowing POST.

Some enthusiast boards also include options like memory training controls that can affect POST time. Only change these if you understand the implications, and document original settings before adjusting.

FAQ: Windows 11 Slow Boot Times

Why is Windows 11 booting slowly even on an SSD? The most common causes are too many startup apps, outdated drivers, firmware delays (high Last BIOS time), or background services that load at sign-in.

Will enabling Fast Startup always make Windows 11 boot faster? Often yes, but results vary by system configuration. It can also cause issues in dual-boot setups or certain hardware scenarios.

Is sleep better than shutdown for speed? For many users, yes. Sleep typically resumes much faster than a cold boot, especially on modern hardware.

Bottom Line

To speed up Windows 11 boot time, start with startup app cleanup and Fast Startup, then measure using Task Manager and address the real bottleneck, whether it is Windows sign-in load, storage health, or BIOS/UEFI initialization. With these steps, many PCs can go from sluggish startup behavior to a fast, reliable boot experience.

How to Speed Up Windows 11 Slow Boot Times (Fast, Safe Fixes That Work)