Top 10 everyday work IT problems and how to fix them

The average employee loses 22 minutes per day to technical issues. That’s nearly 2 hours per week, or for a 10-person team, you’re looking at 480 lost hours annually, or £12,000+ in wasted productivity.

While we offer proactive monitoring and preventative measures to stop many issues before they arise, some problems are simply unavoidable. And even with the best systems in place, technology can occasionally let you down: connections drop, software misbehaves, or hardware needs attention.

Understanding the most common IT problems that occur in the workplace (and how they’re resolved) can help you work more efficiently, reduce downtime, and gain insight into the practical support our team provides every day. In this article, we look at the ten most frequent IT issues we encounter and the ways IT Support can help you get back on track quickly.

A slow or unreliable connection in the office can disrupt everything from emails to cloud-based systems. It’s one of the most frequent problems reported to service desks.

IT advice:

• Try reconnecting to the corporate Wi-Fi network or move to an area with a stronger signal.
• Avoid connecting multiple personal devices that may slow the network.
• Let IT Support know if several people are affected, as it could indicate a wider network fault.

What Curveball does: We can reset access points, check for cabling or switch faults, and ensure network coverage across the building remains strong and stable.

 

Pro tip: If video calls or large file transfers frequently fail, ask IT about optimising network settings or implementing bandwidth prioritisation to ensure smoother performance.

Locked accounts and forgotten passwords are everyday frustrations in any workplace, making password problems another leading cause of IT Support requests. Locked accounts or forgotten passwords leave employees frustrated and unproductive.

IT advice:

• Check for typing errors and that Caps Lock and Number Lock are off.
• Use the organisation’s password reset tool if available.
• If multi-factor authentication (MFA) is failing, ensure your device has a stable internet connection.

What Curveball does: We can quickly unlock or reset accounts, re-sync login credentials, and check that domain authentication between local servers and cloud services is working correctly.

Nothing is more frustrating than a computer that seems to take forever to respond. Office PCs can slow down over time, especially when several applications are running at once or when temporary files accumulate. Overloaded systems, outdated hardware or too many background processes running at once can cause slow performance.

IT advice:

• Close unused programs and browser tabs.
• Restart your computer regularly to clear temporary memory.
• Avoid saving large files to the device desktop or documents; use company cloud storage like OneDrive instead.
• Check storage to ensure your hard drive isn’t reaching full capacity.

What Curveball does: We can optimise your system settings, remove unnecessary background processes, install updates, or recommend hardware upgrades such as additional RAM or faster storage drives.

From finance software to email applications, when key work tools stop working, productivity grinds to a halt. Applications that freeze, fail to launch, or show error messages are common IT support requests.

IT advice:

• Save your work (it may help to save it under a slightly different file name) and restart the program or your computer.
• Check for updates or patches, as software vendors regularly release fixes.

What Curveball does: We can repair or reinstall applications, ensure software is compatible with your device and operating system, and provide alternative solutions if the problem persists.

Shared file access issues are common in workplaces that rely on on-premise servers. It might be a permissions issue, a mapped drive error, or a server connection problem.

IT advice:

• Make sure you’re signed into the network and connected via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
• Avoid saving files locally; always use the shared drive once access is restored.

What Curveball does: We can re-map network drives, adjust user permissions, or restart affected file servers to restore shared access quickly.

Despite the move to digital workflows, printers remain a critical tool for many employees, and are still one of the biggest sources of IT support calls.

IT advice:

• Check for paper jams or low toner error messages before logging a ticket.
• Confirm you’re printing to the correct device on the network.

What Curveball does: We can clear print queues, reinstall printer drivers, and manage print servers to keep networked printers functioning smoothly.

Email issues can stop communication in its tracks. In office environments, these usually relate to Outlook synchronisation or local network routing.

IT advice:

• Check your internet connection and confirm the message isn’t stuck in your Outbox.
• Empty deleted items and archive older emails if your mailbox is nearing its storage limit.

What Curveball does: We can restart mail services, repair user profiles, or check the mail server configuration to ensure smooth delivery.

Managing multiple software tools, logins, and workflows can become overwhelming. Juggling too many apps not only slows productivity but can also lead to errors or missed notifications.

IT advice:

• Use single sign-on (SSO) if your company offers it.
• Bookmark or pin the apps you use most frequently.

What Curveball does: We can review user access, consolidate duplicate tools, and suggest streamlined workflows to reduce complexity and make daily tasks simpler.

Projectors, interactive displays, and video conferencing units can often cause last-minute stress before a meeting.

IT advice:

• Test the equipment five minutes before your meeting starts.
• Ensure cables are connected securely and select the correct display source.

What Curveball does: We maintain and test AV equipment regularly, replace faulty cables, and can assist with software integrations like Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms.

Keyboards, mice, headsets, and docking stations are used daily and can occasionally stop responding.

IT advice:

• Try a different USB port or restart your PC.
• If it’s a wireless device, replace or recharge the batteries.

What Curveball does: We can test ports, replace faulty peripherals, and update drivers to keep all devices functioning correctly.

• Automated monitoring that catches problems before users notice
• Self-service tools for password resets and common requests
• Network optimisation based on actual usage patterns
• Hardware refresh cycles that replace aging equipment before it fails

The difference between reactive and proactive IT? One costs you 2 hours of productivity per employee per week. The other gives you those hours back.

Even the most well-maintained systems can experience unexpected issues, it’s part of working with technology. What matters is how quickly and effectively those problems are resolved. That’s where our IT support makes the difference. From preventing potential issues through proactive monitoring to providing fast, expert solutions when problems do arise, we ensure your team can stay productive and stress-free.

By knowing the most common IT challenges and having a trusted support partner at your side, you can focus on your work with confidence, knowing that technology won’t slow you down.