The Sundarban
Published Mar 29, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT
Kanika started writing about user technology in 2019 and has contributed to tech net sites indulge in Beebom and The Mac Observer. At some point soon of her move, she coated a truly perfect alternative of issues, along side Android, Windows, AI, and all the pieces Apple. She has been a staunch iPhone user since 2014, and owns an Apple device from almost every lineup. With a fascinating search on the most contemporary traits, she strives to abet users net the most out of their devices.
Previous her indulge in for writing, she is a deep researcher and a lifelong learner, always fascinating to explore the most contemporary innovations and emerging technologies. Along with her passion for technology and writing, she joined MUO in 2025 as a Freelance Tech Author.
When not writing, she’s doubtlessly attempting a viral Instagram recipe or watching some thriller suspense on Netflix.
I knew something was not true with my PC. No, it wasn’t unstable. It didn’t even smash randomly. Alternatively, all the pieces felt delayed. My apps would take longer to originate, my browser stuttered at times, and even straightforward tasks indulge in typing lagged on the support of my thoughts. When this started happening another time and another time, I blamed my hardware. I understanding maybe it was basically time to upgrade RAM, and even my total machine. Truly, it changed into out that hardware wasn’t the difficulty. There was one app silently draining efficiency within the background. And I had no idea until I optimistic to originate a straightforward Windows tool on my PC.
Slow PCs are straightforward to misdiagnose
You doubtlessly can compose immoral assumptions
Credit: Shimul Sood / MakeUseOf
When I was stuck with a behind Windows machine, I did what most oldsters produce. I started guessing. I understanding of the standard aspects and jumped to the immoral conclusions. At one point, I understanding that extra RAM would possibly maybe fix my sluggish system. Then, I understanding that my Windows PC was bloated. I even blamed Windows updates for slowing down my system (I know we all produce that in the end). I was even pleased that the CPU was ethical out of date to enhance my workflow.
Up-to-the-minute methods not ceaselessly ever fail in apparent programs, and this makes them hard. In my case, things obtained worse slowly. I would possibly maybe not area one definite insist. There occupy been background processes, hidden startup programs, and some poorly optimized apps eating up my resources. In most cases, a assignment would launch the utilize of manner extra processing energy than it is going to aloof, and I would possibly maybe not understand why. In some cases, I felt it was a a must-occupy system assignment, and other times, I was vexed about whether or not my PC was contaminated with malware. In case you don’t occupy a definite understanding of what’s happening on the support of the scenes, it’s less complicated to misdiagnose the difficulty. And that’s the manner you cease up wasting your precious time and money chasing costly upgrades you by no diagram predominant.
Process Supervisor
My PC was noticeably behind extra normally than not. I wasn’t running any heavy apps or tool. No gaming, no making improvements to, and no ingenious tools. I was ethical the utilize of a web based browser with some tabs and opened some of my day after day apps, indulge in Slack and WhatsApp. Quiet, my system felt as if it occupy been below fixed stress. Out of increasing frustration and soft curiosity, I opened Process Supervisor on my PC. I wasn’t attempting ahead to great, but something stood out straight away.
I was checking out diversified tabs in Process Supervisor. When I switched to the Processes tab, my CPU usage was somewhere around 80%, even when the system was below a basically mild load. Besides my browser, one app was glued to the tip of the list, and my fans occupy been working harder than they’d maybe occupy to aloof. What was extra comely was the reality that it wasn’t even energetic. It wasn’t doing the leisure visible. No pop-ups, no energetic home windows, and no indication of being energetic. It was ethical sitting within the background and drinking my precious system resources.
That’s when I realized my PC wasn’t behind. It was ethical overloaded by an unwanted app.
How I confirmed the culprit app and fixed the difficulty
Be conscious all the pieces down
In my Process Supervisor, I noticed Google Chrome and the Trellix Scanner provider (or not it is a core component of Trellix Endpoint security in Windows 11) occupy been the utilize of the most CPU. Additionally, the CPU usage of WhatsApp was always fluctuating. I was the utilize of Google Chrome, but not WhatsApp. It launched true on the startup and stayed within the background. After I noticed them, I wanted to test within the event that they occupy been basically accountable for the slowdown. So, I optimistic to sort a mercurial test with Process Supervisor. I left it originate within the background and started the utilize of my PC normally. I was switching tabs and opening apps. I was obvious that my machine wasn’t below intense load. On every occasion my machine lagged, I noticed that the CPU usage of WhatsApp spiked. The sample was fixed. Then, I optimistic to true-click WhatsApp and hit Discontinuance Process. I also reduced the choice of tabs in Chrome. The Trellix Scanner provider is a core assignment that offers true-time protection, so I did not are attempting to the contact it.
Once I ended those tasks, the variation was quick. My CPU usage dropped, the fans grew to become quieter, and my PC felt smoother, indulge in the load had been released. I wanted to compose obvious that the app by no diagram runs without my knowledge. I visited the Startup apps tab within the Process Supervisor and disabled that app. I also disabled several other pointless apps that I don’t need true away on launch. That’s all it took. No predominant system tweaks or costly hardware upgrades. Appropriate removing one app made my Windows PC plenty faster.
Well, that was my case. In case you secure an app is drinking too many resources to your system, it is likely you’ll maybe occupy to aloof not cease it true away. I’m announcing this because not all apps and processes will also be deleted safely.
