A slow computer can be incredibly frustrating and is often caused by multiple issues working together. The primary culprits tend to be excessive background processes, low available memory (RAM), or storage issues. Start by opening the Task Manager (on Windows) or Activity Monitor (on Mac) to identify programs that consume significant resources. Closing unnecessary applications can free up CPU and RAM usage. You might also want to remove or disable startup programs that automatically open when you boot up your computer, as these can slow down performance significantly. Checking your available storage is crucial as well—when your hard drive or SSD is nearly full, your system doesn't have enough space to create temporary files, slowing it down. Consider uninstalling unused programs or moving large files to an external drive. Running a disk cleanup and defragmentation (for HDDs) can also improve system efficiency. Finally, outdated hardware components, like low RAM or an older CPU, can contribute to lag, so upgrading your hardware can provide a noticeable speed boost. Running antivirus software can ensure malware isn’t affecting performance. Regular system updates are also essential since they bring optimizations that can prevent your computer from slowing down.