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This is how I fixed my PC after a Windows update made it slow
Some people are deeply reluctant to install software updates, and there can be valid reasons for that. Most updates are beneficial, of course -- they're solving bugs, fixing security holes, or adding new features. But occasionally they sabotage a familiar interface, or introduce new ways for you to pay more for things. In rarer instances, updates can arrive broken, forcing you to wait for a follow-up patch or perform a factory reset.
An issue people don't talk about that much is that some Windows updates can slow a PC down. This isn't necessarily a sign of them being flawed, though. As it turns out, this can just be a temporary consequence of the update process, or an issue with other software on your computer. A little patience and poking around should tell the truth. Don't think you need to start from scratch or buy a new PC, at least not yet.
Waiting out background update and indexing tasks
Patience, young Padawan
One of the most important things Windows handles in the background is file indexing. This sounds dull, but without a convenient "map" of all the files on your PC, it can take longer than necessary to track down items in File Explorer, slowing down your workflow. I experienced this first-hand a few months ago with a brand-new laptop -- until indexing was done, it often took several seconds to search for documents or media files synced from my old computer.
The drawback to indexing is that this increases the load on your CPU and hard drive(s) until it completes, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days if there have been enough changes in file structure. Most updates should require very little indexing -- but if there's been an overhaul of multiple apps or Windows itself, your PC could feel a bit slower for a while.
Most PCs handle this well enough to minimize the impact, but you will feel the hurt on machines with low-end CPUs, platter-based drives, or 8GB of RAM or less.
Most PCs handle this well enough to minimize the impact, but you will feel the hurt on machines with low-end CPUs, platter-based drives (HDDs), or 8GB of RAM or less. You might run into trouble regardless if you've got a lot of background processes running already, such as 4K video exports.
Speaking of which, Windows updates always involve a pass from something called the Windows Module Installer. This performs a number of functions, including removing junk, updating various databases, and moving and optimizing system files. In fact it may be the combination of indexing and Module Installer leading to noticeable slowness, although the latter shouldn't be active for very long.
There's not much you can do in this situation except wait things out. A few hours ought to be enough. If not, you can try checking Windows Update for pending installs, and rebooting your PC to make sure everything is complete.
Updating apps and device drivers
A complex series of parts
If you own a pre-built PC, you might be tempted to think of it as a complete package from a single company, but the truth is that it's like a car -- many components are from different manufacturers, it's just that they've been arranged and tested together under a single umbrella. Along those lines, you might think of a custom-built PC as a hotrod you've put together in your garage.
Microsoft often gives its partners a heads-up before bigger Windows updates, knowing that they could potentially break some functions. Even when it does, though, there's still the potential for unexpected conflicts, or for some app developers or hardware manufacturers to be dragging their feet. It could be that one or more apps or drivers haven't been optimized for the new code, for example.
When a GPU driver isn't optimized for a specific app -- usually a new game -- it can sometimes have an impact on framerates, assuming the app loads or renders properly in the first place.
If there's a conflict with an app, slowdowns will likely be limited to that software unless it's something that's continually running in the background. Drivers are a more serious concern, particularly for your GPU (graphics chip/card). When a GPU driver isn't optimized for a specific app -- usually a new game -- it can sometimes have an impact on framerates, assuming the app loads or renders properly in the first place.
While Windows Update occasionally supplies driver updates, it may be worth checking PC or part makers' apps to be sure you're using the latest software. The two major GPU platforms, AMD and Nvidia, tend to release updates on a more rapid basis this way, since they have to keep up with the flood of new PC games released every month. It doesn't look good if a state-of-the-art graphics card can't handle the latest Battlefield or Call of Duty title. You can roll back a driver update if necessary by finding an older version on a manufacturer's website.
When it comes to installing app updates, you'll have to turn to proprietary update tools or the Microsoft Store. In the second, click on the Downloads tab in the sidebar to see what's available.
Removing bloatware and re-instating previous settings
Unlikely, but keep your eyes open
Microsoft is obsessed with generative AI. Its ChatGPT-based Copilot assistant keeps showing up in more and more places, much to the annoyance of those of us who don't find it that helpful. It's actually unlikely that Copilot or some other form of bloatware is slowing down Windows as a whole -- but if you spot an app you don't recognize or previously removed, it may be worth researching online to see if you can safely uninstall it. Most apps can be uninstalled by going to Settings -> Apps -> Installed apps and clicking on the appropriate triple-dot icon.
In other cases, it may be that an update has reverted some settings you used to keep performance under control, such as visual effects, or Windows 11's Game Mode, which automatically disables some background functions while you're playing. It could even be that an app you blocked from launching automatically at boot has been reinstated. If so, you'll want to check under Settings -> Apps -> Startup. Flip the on/off toggles for anything you don't need.
While it's unlikely that Copilot or some other form of bloatware is slowing down Windows, if you spot an app you don't recognize or previously removed, it may be worth research to see if you can safely uninstall it.
Microsoft is typically good about preserving existing settings, but unfortunately, there's no easy way to verify that everything is intact. If a change isn't conspicuous, you'll have to scan through the major Settings menus one-by-one. I'd concentrate on the System menu's Display and Power & battery sections, but don't stop there.
Returning to bloatware, consider that Microsoft might not be to blame. It could be that a third-party app received a bad update around the same time, or was always prone to misbehaving. You probably don't need a third-party antivirus suite on your machine if you've already got Windows Security active, for instance.
