Why is Notepad opening slowly?

Notepad slow opening is usually caused by insufficient system resources or interference from background processes. First, high CPU or memory usage will cause Notepad startup delays, and you can close unnecessary programs, check resource usage with Task Manager, or restart the computer to resolve; second, corrupt settings or system files may also cause problems, which can be fixed by resetting Notepad or running the sfc /scannow command; finally, third-party shell extensions or startup items programs may cause conflicts, and it is recommended to disable non-essential startup items through Task Manager or use ShellExView to troubleshoot suspicious extensions.

Notepad opening slowly can be frustrating, especially since it's supposed to be a lightweight and fast text editor. The issue usually stems from system resource constraints or background processes interfering with its launch.

High CPU or Memory Usage

If your computer is running other heavy applications in the background, Notepad might take longer than usual to open. This is common on systems with limited RAM or when multiple browser tabs are open alongside resource-heavy software like video editors or virtual machines.

What you can do:

• Close unecessary programs before launching Notepad.
• Use Task Manager (Ctrl Shift Esc) to check if any process is using excessive CPU or memory.
• Restart your computer if things seem sluggish across the board.

You might not notice this at first because Notepad doesn't show a loading screen or progress bar — it just hangs for a few seconds before appearing.

Corrupted Preferences or System Files

Sometimes, Notepad may have stored corrupted settings or there could be an issue with system files related to basic Windows functions. While rare, this can cause delays during startup as the system tries to load faulty data.

How to fix it:

• Try resetting Notepad via Settings > Apps > Optional Features > Notepad (turn off and on again).
• Run the System File Checker by typing sfc /scannow in Command Prompt (run as administrator).

This won't happen often, but it's more likely on older Windows installations or after a failed update.

Conflicts with Shell Extensions or Startup Programs

Third-party shell extensions or programs that load at startup can interfere with simple apps like Notepad. Antivirus tools, clipboard managers, or file indexing utilities are common culprits.

Steps to investigate:

• Open Task Manager > Startup tab and disable non-essential programs.
• Use a tool like ShellExView to check for suspicious shell extensions.

Some users have reported faster Notepad performance after disabling certain background services, especially those added by third-party software.

That's about it. It's not rocket science, but it's easy to overlook these small factors when something as basic as Notepad starts acting slow.

The above is the detailed content of Why is Notepad opening slowly?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!