When an application is running slowly, what should you check first?

When an application is running slowly, checking whether your application has been updated recently is a crucial first step. Software developers frequently release updates that not only improve performance but also fix bugs that can cause applications to run inefficiently. An outdated application may not be optimized for the current system environment or may have unresolved issues that have been addressed in recent updates. Ensuring the application is up-to-date can resolve various performance problems caused by such bugs or compatibility issues.

Exploring other factors can also be important, such as free storage space, which can affect overall system performance, or internet connectivity for cloud-based applications. However, if the application is outdated, it might not take advantage of recent optimizations, which could be the root cause of any sluggishness. Therefore, verifying the application's update status is a logical first step in troubleshooting performance issues.