How to Fix Windows Apps Taking Too Long to Open

What Causes This?

Windows apps usually open slowly when your PC is busy doing too much in the background or when system resources are tied up by startup programs, outdated software, or temporary junk files. In some cases, a slow hard drive, low available RAM, or a nearly full system drive can also delay app launches. Corrupted app data and Windows issues can make specific apps hang before they fully open.

Common Symptoms

• Apps take several seconds or longer to launch
• The app window appears blank or says “Not Responding” at first
• Your PC feels sluggish when opening multiple programs
• Apps open faster after a restart, then slow down again later
• Disk or memory usage stays unusually high in Task Manager

How to Fix It Manually

1. Restart your PC

   • Click Start > Power > Restart.
   • This clears temporary background processes and can immediately improve app launch times.

2. Check for resource-heavy background processes

   • Open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
   • In the Processes tab, click CPU, Memory, or Disk to sort by usage.
   • Look for apps or background processes using unusually high resources.
   • If you recognize a non-essential app, select it and click End task.

3. Disable unnecessary startup apps

   • In Task Manager, open the Startup apps tab.
   • Review apps marked with High impact.
   • Right-click anything you don’t need launching with Windows and choose Disable.
   • Restart your PC and test whether apps open faster.

4. Free up space on your system drive

   • Open Settings > System > Storage.
   • Check how much free space is left on your C: drive.
   • If space is low, click Temporary files, select items you want to remove, and click Remove files.
   • You can also uninstall unused programs from Settings > Apps > Installed apps.

5. Update Windows and the slow app

   • Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates.
   • Install any pending updates and restart if prompted.
   • For Microsoft Store apps, open the Microsoft Store, click your profile icon > Downloads and updates, then update installed apps.
   • If it’s a desktop app, open that app and check its settings or help menu for updates.

6. Repair or reset the app

   • Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
   • Find the slow app, click the three dots next to it, then choose Advanced options.
   • Click Repair first.
   • If that doesn’t help, return and click Reset.
     • Note: Reset may remove the app’s saved settings.

7. Check your drive health if the problem affects many apps

   • Open File Explorer, right-click your C: drive, and choose Properties.
   • Go to the Tools tab and click Check under error checking.
   • If you use an older HDD instead of an SSD, slow app launches may be caused by drive performance limits.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can scan your PC for the things that commonly make apps slow to open, including startup clutter, unnecessary background activity, and system junk that reduces responsiveness. Instead of checking each setting manually, you can use Kudu to clean up performance issues and help Windows apps launch faster.

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