How to fix slow Windows 11 SSD performance

If you’re looking to buy a new laptop or desktop PC, one with an SSD is highly recommended. It’s much faster and more reliable than HDD or eMMC, the other main storage standards.

But what if the slow speeds you were hoping to avoid are still happening on a device with an SSD? It may be hardware-related, but there are also some things you can try on the software side.

We’re using Windows 11 for the purposes of this tutorial, but most of the settings mentioned are also available on Windows 10. Here’s what you need to know.

Check if it’s a hardware issue

Sometimes, the problem isn’t to do with Windows at all. The performance of SSDs degrades over time, and there can be defects which make this process happen quicker. There are two ways to check if that’s what’s affecting your device.

Via File Explorer

Using the File Explorer is the easiest method, and the one we recommend for most people:

1. Open File Explorer
2. Select ‘This PC’ from the left pane, then locate the drive containing the Windows OS. This will be indicated with a Windows logo – it’s usually the C: drive
3. Right-click it and choose ‘Properties’

4. Select the ‘Tools’ tab from the top of the window that appears
5. Under ‘Error checking’, click the button marked ‘Check’

6. You may see a message saying ‘You don’t need to scan the drive’, which usually means it’s not hardware-related. But it’s still worth checking to confirm, so click ‘Scan drive’

6. The scan will now begin – it should only take a minute or two. If any issues are found, it will try to fix them automatically
7. You should see a message saying ‘Your drive was successfully scanned’. Click ‘Show Details’ to see if anything has been fixed

Via Command Prompt

It’s also possible to do this via Command Prompt, although it will just identify any issues rather than try to solve them:

1. Search for the Command Prompt, but make sure you choose ‘Run as administrator’ followed by ‘Yes’ to open it

2. Type ‘chkdsk’ and hit enter
3. If you see a message saying ‘Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems’, it’s not hardware-related

Even if no issues are detected, it’s worth doing some of the file management you normally would to see if the situation has improved. If not, move on to the next step.

Check for software updates

A Windows 11 update may have caused the issue, so it’s worth checking if any potential fix has been released. Almost every update will fix some bugs.

To do so, just check and install any updates like you normally would:

1. Head to Settings > Windows Update and click ‘Check for updates’

2. Click ‘Download & install’ next to any updates that appear
3. Once complete, head back to Windows Update settings, but choose Advanced options > Optional updates
4. Click the drop-down for anything which appears, then click the box next to the specific update and choose ‘Download & install’

Disable startup programs

By reducing the number of apps that launch each time you turn on your device, you decrease the load on your SSD and potentially help it perform better:

1. Open Task Manager, then click the Startup apps icon from the left pane (it looks like a speedometer)
2. For any app you don’t need to launch at startup, right-click it and choose ‘Disable’

Remember, only do this for apps you’re familiar with. If unsure, it’s best to leave them or do research to see if they’re important.

Turn off SSD defragmentation

The disk defragmentation tool is important for hard disk drives (HDDs), but not necessary on SSDs. In fact, it could reduce the performance of your SSD, so it’s worth turning off:

1. Search for ‘Defragment and optimize drives’ and open the relevant app
2. Make sure your SSD is highlighted in blue (check for ‘Solid state drive’ under ‘Media type’), then choose ‘Change settings’

3. Untick the box next to ‘Run on a schedule’, then click OK to confirm

Delete USN Journal

A USN Journal file provides a log of all the changes made to the volume where it’s stored. But it’s not necessary for the running of your device, and it can slow down SSD read and write speeds. To delete it:

1. Search for the Command Prompt, but make sure you choose ‘Run as administrator’ followed by ‘Yes’ to open it
2. Type ‘fsutil usn’ and hit enter
3. Type ‘deleteJournal’ and hit enter

4. Restart your device to apply changes

Hopefully one (or more) of these steps will have fixed the problem or boosted SSD speeds. If not, it might be time to consider a new SSD or even new laptop.