Is your Mac feeling sluggish and unresponsive? Don’t worry! You’re not alone. Over time, Macs can start to slow down due to various reasons, including cluttered files, outdated software, and other factors. The good news is that you don’t need to rush to the Apple Store for an upgrade. In this blog post, we’ll learn how to speed up Mac and make it run like new again.
It’s recommended not to throw away your Mac. Even if it’s slow at the moment, there are numerous things you can do to make it faster. In fact, you may notice improved performance within minutes and identify the cause of slow performance. As a result, you can have a faster computer for a long time!
Why Is Your iMac Running Slow?
We’ve all been there – that moment when your once-speedy Mac starts feeling like it’s moving through molasses. You’re not alone; many Mac users encounter this issue over time. But why does it happen, and how to speed up Mac? The following section will discuss common reasons why your Mac is running slow.
1. One of the common reasons for a slow Mac is the presence of too many running applications in the background. As a result, users want to speed up Mac free.
2. Simultaneously running multiple apps can slow down your Mac if it doesn’t have enough RAM (memory) to handle the workload.
3. Running outdated operating systems and software can lead to performance issues.
4. If your Mac has a hard disk drive (HDD), it could be a prime cause of slow performance.
5. Over time, your Mac accumulates files, including old documents, downloads, and cached data.
6. Browser extensions can be resource hogs, slowing down your web browsing and, in turn, your whole Mac.
7. Although less common on Macs, malware and viruses can still infect your system, causing performance issues.
A slow Mac can be frustrating, but it’s important to remember that you can take steps to diagnose and resolve the issues. Now, we will learn the best ways to speed up a MacBook.
9 Quick Ways to Speed Up Mac
The following section will discuss your question on how to speed up Mac. You just need to go through each paragraph in detail.
#1. Clean up Your Desktop
Having a cluttered desktop with numerous files and folders can slow down your Mac’s performance. Each icon on your desktop consumes system resources, so consider moving these files to organized folders or deleting unnecessary ones.
#2. Detect and Stop Demanding Processes
If your Mac acts sluggish or gets hot, a demanding process could be the cause. Here’s how to find and stop a process that’s slowing down your Mac:
- Click on Go in your Mac’s menu bar, go to Utilities, and select Activity Monitor.
- Click the CPU tab at the top and choose % CPU to organize the processes by how much computer power they use. The ones with higher percentages are likely slowing down your Mac.
Tip: Ignore processes related to macOS itself, like WindowServer, kernel_task, and sysmond, as these are essential system processes. Look for applications you’ve installed, marked with your username.
- Identify processes using more than 5% to 10% of CPU. When you’re sure you want to stop one, select it and click the X button. Choose Quit or Force Quit to stop it.
- Switch to other tabs to find processes using a lot of Memory, Energy (battery life), Disk, or Network (if your internet is slow). Under Energy, you can sort by 12 hr Power to see apps that have drained your battery the most in the last 12 hours.
It will help users to speed up Mac. If not, go with the other solutions.
#3. Manage Startup Programs
Unnecessary startup programs could be the reason. You can disable them to speed up boot time and reduce background processes, which makes your Mac faster.
- First, open the Apple menu and go to System Preferences > Users & Groups.
- After that, click on Login Items. If you see anything you don’t need at startup, select it and click the minus icon.
- Then, look for other hidden startup items. To find them, click Go in your Mac’s menu bar while holding down the Option key on your keyboard. It will reveal a new item called Library. Click it.
- Now, scroll until you find LaunchDaemons and LaunchAgents. These are parts of installed apps that start automatically. If you’re sure you don’t need them, move them to the Trash.
#4. Remove Unused Apps
You can also make your Mac faster by going through your hard drive and getting rid of apps you don’t use anymore. Here’s how to uninstall apps you no longer need:
- First, go to Finder > Applications. Click the grid icon and select Date Last Opened to sort your apps by the last time you used them.
- Drag any apps you no longer use to the Trash and then empty the Trash. It will free up space and prevent old apps from slowing down your Mac.
#5. Check For macOS Update
New macOS versions used to slow down older Macs, but now, Apple focuses on making Macs run better with each update. Keeping your operating system up to date can help speed up your Mac:
- First, open the Apple menu and go to System Preferences > Software Update. Wait for your Mac to check for updates.
- Then, click Update Now if an update is available. It might take a while, but it can improve your Mac’s performance.
- Also, make sure the Automatically Keep My Mac up to date option is selected.
#6. Optimize Storage
macOS includes a built-in storage management tool.
Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac > Storage > Manage to optimize storage by offloading rarely used apps, removing old email attachments, and more.
#7. Clear Your Cache
Cached files can accumulate over time, taking up valuable disk space. To speed up your Mac, periodically clear browser, application, and system caches. Use tools like CleanMyMac to make this process more straightforward.
Also Read: Gmail Storage Full? What To Do To Fix Error?
#8. Boost Your Mac’s Speed With More RAM
If your Mac is getting slower due to outdated hardware, adding more RAM (Random Access Memory) is a smart move. Think of RAM as your Mac’s short-term memory; it helps it process tasks faster. Here’s what you need to know:
Unless you’re a professional video editor or a computer programmer, you probably don’t need more than 8 GB or 16 GB of RAM. The most significant speed boost comes from upgrading if you have only 1, 2, or 4 GB of RAM. Also, it’s a good idea to regularly check your RAM for any errors that might be slowing down your Mac.
#9. Upgrade to an SSD for Even More Speed
If you want to take your Mac’s performance to the next level, think about swapping your old Hard Disk Drive (HDD) for a faster Solid-State Drive (SSD). The difference between the two is significant:
An HDD loads your data and programs at about 100 megabytes per second, while an SSD can do this at speeds of up to 3500 megabytes per second. Yes, the change is that dramatic!
The good news is the cost of SSDs has come down quite a bit, making them an affordable way to give your Mac a substantial speed boost.
The Verdict!
By following these nine proven tips, you can significantly improve the performance of your Mac without the need for a costly upgrade. Remember that regular maintenance is prime to keeping your Mac running smoothly. In the end, we hope you got your solution on how to speed up Mac.