How to Fix Your Mac Running Slow After an Update: 12 Best Solutions

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Hashir Ibrahim

Last updated: August 4, 2024

Expert verified

We’ve all been there—you update your Mac, excited for the latest features, only to find that your system is suddenly running slow. It’s frustrating, but this post will help you understand why these slowdowns occur and offer practical solutions to restore your Mac’s speed. From managing resource usage to clearing out digital clutter, you’ll discover effective tips to get your Mac back on track. Let’s tackle this issue together so you can enjoy your updated Mac without the lag.

Why Does Your Mac Slow Down After An Update?

Many users notice their Mac’s performance lagging post an update. A few potential reasons for this could be the following:

• 🚫 System Incompatibility: Some updates might not align with your Mac’s current hardware or software, leading to slower performance or crashes. Always check if your system meets the minimum requirements before installing updates.
• 🔄 Increased Resource Usage: Updates often come with new features that require more system resources like CPU and memory. This increased demand can slow down older systems that weren’t designed for such workloads.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Background Processes: After installing an update, your Mac might run additional background processes that impact overall performance. While designed to be efficient, these processes can still slow down systems with limited resources.
• 🐞 Bugs and Glitches: New updates can occasionally introduce bugs or glitches that affect your Mac’s efficiency. These issues may cause software conflicts or reduced system speed until Apple releases a fix.
• 🗑️ Data Clutter: Updates can accumulate extra data, such as cached files and logs, which can clutter your storage. If the update process doesn’t clean up properly, leftover junk data can negatively impact performance.
• 🚀 Increased Startup Items: Some updates add new startup items that launch when your Mac boots up. If these items consume too many resources, they can contribute to slower system performance.

12 Top Solutions for a Mac Running Slow After An Update

To fix your Mac running slow after an update, restart your Mac, free up storage space, clear cached data, and disable unnecessary startup items. Update your apps to ensure compatibility, and if needed, reset the SMC or PRAM/NVRAM to boost performance.

Here are 12 proven solutions you can try to fix this issue:

1. Restart Your Mac

First and foremost, try restarting your Mac. It might sound too simple to be effective, but a sluggish Mac often needs a reboot. Restarting your Mac closes unresponsive apps, clears out temporary files, and resets your system’s memory, potentially resolving any performance issues.

To restart your Mac, you can follow these simple steps:

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select Restart.

2. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the Control ^+ Command ⌘ + Power buttons together.

3. A confirmation dialog will appear asking if you want to restart your Mac. Click the Restart button to proceed.

Once the restart is complete, your Mac will boot up again, and you can log in as usual.

If your Mac is unresponsive or frozen, you can force a restart by pressing and holding the Power button until your Mac shuts down. Then, press the Power button again to turn it back on.

2. Check Storage Space on Your Mac

If your storage space is almost full, it can significantly impact your Mac’s speed. You must have sufficient free storage space on your Mac to maintain optimal performance after a macOS update. 

To check the storage space on your Mac, you can follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select System Settings.

2. Click General and select the Storage tab.

3. Here, you’ll see a visual representation of your storage space, divided into categories such as Apps, Bin, macOS, System Data, and Other Users. The colored sections will indicate how much space each category occupies on your Mac’s storage.

4. If it’s getting near the limit, consider deleting unnecessary files or moving them to an external drive or cloud storage.

3. Clear Cache and Unwanted Files on Mac

Your Mac collects a lot of cache files over time, which could slow it down. Clearing cache and unwanted files can free up considerable space. You can clear the cache on your Mac manually or use third-party tools like MacKeeper.

Here’s how to clear the cache on your Mac using MacKeeper:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.

2. Once done, open MacKeeper and select Safe Cleanup in the left sidebar.

3. Click Start Scan.

4. Select files from the scan results to remove unnecessary cache items from your system. You can also click the Check All checkbox.

5. Click Clean Junk Files.

6. You will receive confirmation that the cleaning process has been completed successfully. Click Rescan to scan your Mac again.

If you don’t have MacKeeper, you can manually clear the cache on your Mac. Here’s how:

1. Open Finder, click Go in the top menu bar, and select Go to Folder.

2. A pop-up box will appear with an empty search bar. Type the following path into the search bar and press Enter:

~/Library/Caches/

3. This will open the Caches folder. Here, select the folder for the system data you want to clear.
4. Right-click the files and select Move to Bin.

5. Permanently delete the cache from your Mac by right-clicking the Bin icon and selecting Empty the Bin.

4. Disable Unnecessary Startup Items on Mac

Startup items or login items are programs or processes set to launch automatically when you start up your Mac. They can include essential system processes and third-party applications.

Too many applications launching at startup can slow down your Mac. These items consume significant system resources such as CPU, memory, or disk I/O when they launch.

Here’s how to remove login items on your Mac using MacKeeper:

1. Download MacKeeper and install it on your Mac.

2. Open Login Items under Performance in MacKeeper.

3. Click Start Scan.

4. Select unnecessary items from the list and click Remove Selected Items.

5. Tap the Remove button on the pop-up.

6. It will remove your selected items from the system startup list. You can click Rescan to repeat the process.

If you don’t have MacKeeper, you can use Mac System Settings to manage and remove login items. Follow these steps to remove login items in System Settings:

1. Click the Apple icon and tap System Settings.

2. Select General and click Login Items in the right menu.

3. Here, you’ll see the items that launch when you start up your Mac.
4. Select the login item you want to remove and click the – button at the bottom of the list to remove the login item.

5. Free Up Your Mac’s RAM

If your Mac is running slow, it might be due to insufficient RAM, particularly if you’re running several resource-intensive applications simultaneously. Quitting unnecessary apps, disabling memory-hogging browser extensions, and restarting your Mac can free up RAM.

Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner to free up RAM on your Mac:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.

2. Launch MacKeeper and click Memory Cleaner under the Performance tab.

3. Click Open.

4. Click Clean Memory.

5. It will clean your Mac and free up available memory. You can see how much memory it freed under Last Cleanup.

Alternatively, you can use Activity Monitor to free up RAM on your Mac. Here are the steps you can follow:

1. Open the Activity Monitor by navigating to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.

2. Click the Memory tab to see the current usage of memory by all running applications.

3. The processes are sorted by their memory usage by default. If not, you can sort the list by clicking the Memory column to see which applications are using the most memory.

4. If you see an application using a lot of memory you’re not currently using, you can force quit it by selecting it and clicking the X button in the top-left corner.

6. Check for Incompatible Apps and Delete Them

Post-update, certain apps may not be compatible with the new system version, leading to performance issues. Check the developer’s website or the Mac App Store to see if an update is available for these apps. If not, consider uninstalling them.

Here’s how to uninstall multiple apps on Mac in one go using MacKeeper:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.

2. After installation, launch MacKeeper and click the Smart Uninstaller in the left-hand menu.

3. Click Start Scan.

4. Select the applications you want to delete from the list and click Remove Selected.

5. Tap the Remove button on the pop-up to confirm the deletion.

6. MacKeeper will uninstall the apps and remove associated files and folders. You will get a Removal Completed notification. If you want to scan your Mac again, click Rescan.

On the other hand, if you have one or two incompatible or corrupt apps, you can use Launchpad to uninstall an app on Mac. Here’s how:

1. Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, or use the Mac keyboard shortcut key: F4.

2. Scroll through the list of apps in Launchpad until you find the app you want to uninstall.
3. Click and hold the app icon until it starts shaking, and an X icon appears on the top-left corner of the app icon. Click the X icon to delete the app.

4. A pop-up window will ask you to confirm if you want to delete the app. Tap the Delete button to confirm, and it will move the app to the Bin in the Dock.

5. After deleting the app, right-click the Bin icon in the Dock and select Empty Bin.

6. Restart your Mac to ensure that all changes are applied.

7. Install App Updates on Mac

Speaking of updates, make sure all your applications are up-to-date because outdated apps also lead to your Mac running slow after an update. Developers frequently release updates to improve app performance and resolve compatibility issues.

Here’s how to quickly update multiple apps on your Mac using MacKeeper:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.

2. Launch MacKeeper and click the Update Tracker tab in the left sidebar.

3. Click Scan for Updates.

4. MacKeeper will scan your Mac for outdated apps and display a list. To select an app, check the little box next to it or click Check All to select all apps.

5. Click Update All.

6. Wait for the updates to complete. Depending on the number and size of updates, this can take a while.

7. You’ll get an Update Completed notification. Click Rescan if you want to update more apps.

Alternatively, you can update apps on your Mac manually by following these steps:

1. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and select App Store.

2. Click the Updates tab in the App Store window.

3. If updates are available, you will see a list of apps that can be updated.

4. Click the Update button next to each app that has an update available.

5. This will update the app on your Mac. Now, follow the same steps for all apps to update them.

8. Declutter Your Desktop on Mac

A cluttered desktop can slow down your Mac after an update, as each icon takes up RAM. Decluttering your desktop on a Mac can improve productivity and make it easier to find the files and applications you need.

Here’s how to declutter your Mac desktop:

1. 📁 Create Folders: Start by creating folders on your desktop to organize your files on Mac. Right-click the desktop and select New Folder. Give the folder a name representing the type of files you’ll place inside.
2. 🗂️ Sort Files: Go through the files on your desktop and sort them into the appropriate folders you created. Drag and drop files into the corresponding folders. You can sort them by file type, project, or any other system that makes sense to you.
3. 🗑️ Remove Unnecessary Files: Identify files you no longer need and delete them. You can select multiple files by holding the Command ⌘ key while clicking them. Once selected, right-click and choose Move to Bin or press Command ⌘ + Delete.
4. 📥 Clear Downloads Folder: Often, the Downloads folder can become cluttered with unnecessary files. Open the Downloads folder, review the files, and delete unnecessary items or move important files to appropriate folders.
5. ⚓ Organize Dock: The Dock is a convenient place to access frequently used applications. Remove any unused or infrequently used applications from the Dock by clicking and dragging them out of the Dock.
6. 📚 Utilize Stacks: Mac has a feature called Stacks that automatically organizes files on the desktop into groups based on file type or date. To enable Stacks, right-click the desktop and select Use Stacks. This will help keep your desktop tidy by automatically grouping files.

9. Reset the SMC

The System Management Controller (SMC) controls various hardware functions of your Mac. If you’ve tried everything and your Mac is still slow after an update, you might need to reset the SMC.

Below, I’ve shared how to reset the SMC on Mac for different models.

a. With a Removable Battery

1. Shut down your Mac.

2. Remove your MacBook’s battery.

3. Press and hold the Power button for 5 seconds while the battery is removed.

4. Release the Power button and reinstall the battery.

5. Turn on your Mac by pressing the Power button.

b. With Non-Removable Battery

1. Tap the Apple icon and select Shut Down from the drop-down menu.

2. Press and hold the Shift ⇧ + Control ^ + Option ⌥ keys with the power button for 10 seconds.

3. Release all the keys and press the power button to turn on your MacBook.

c. With M1/M2 Chip

Unlike Intel-based Macs, Apple Silicon Macs don’t have a System Management Controller (SMC). Since there is no SMC, you cannot perform an SMC reset.

10. Reset the PRAM or NVRAM

If all else fails, resetting your Parameter RAM (PRAM) or Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM) can help. PRAM/NVRAM stores settings related to volume, display, and other features. If your Mac is acting strange after an update, resetting the PRAM/NVRAM might help.

Here’s how to reset the PRAM/NVRAM on your Mac:

1. Turn off your Mac.

2. Press the Power button to turn on your Mac.

3. Press and hold the Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + P + R keys simultaneously before the gray screen appears.

4. Hold the keys until your Mac restarts and you hear the startup chime twice. If you have a Mac with the T2 Security Chip, keep holding the keys until the Apple logo appears and disappears twice.
5. Release the keys and let your Mac start up normally.

11. Reinstall macOS

If none of the above solutions work, consider re-installing macOS. It might seem like an extreme step, but a fresh installation can often resolve persistent performance issues.

Remember to back up your data on Mac first, as this process wipes everything.

Here are the steps to reinstall macOS using the Recovery Mode:

1. Connect your MacBook to the internet.

2. Turn off your Mac and turn it back on while holding down the Command ⌘ + R keys on your keyboard. Keep holding the keys until the Apple logo appears.

3. This will boot your Mac into the Recovery Mode. Once it loads, select Reinstall macOS and click Continue.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to select your startup disk and begin the reinstallation process.

5. After the installation, your Mac will restart and display the Setup Assistant. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Mac.
6. Once the setup process completes, you should have a fresh macOS installation.

If this method doesn’t work, you can try other methods to reinstall macOS mentioned here.

12. Downgrade to an Older macOS Version

As a last resort, if the latest macOS update is not working out for you, consider downgrading to an older version.

Follow these steps to downgrade macOS to an older version:

For Macs with Intel processors:

1. Shut down your Mac and initiate the Recovery Mode by pressing Shift + Option + Command + R keys together during the booting.
2. Find and choose the bootable disk marked as Macintosh HD.
3. Provide your password and proceed by clicking Continue.
4. In the Recovery Mode, navigate to Disk Utility, select your desired drive, and click Erase.
5. Make sure to pick the GUID Partition Map and format it as APFS.
6. Lastly, navigate back to Recovery and click reinstall macOS.

For Macs with Apple Silicon:

1. Switch off your Mac and hold the Power key until the Loading startup options notification appears.
2. Select Options and press Continue.
3. You’ll need to enter your administrator account’s password at this point.
4. Navigate to Recovery Mode, find the Macintosh HD drive, and click the Erase option.
5. An option to Reinstall macOS should become visible. Choose this, press Continue, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Enhance Your Mac’s Speed With Regular Maintenance

Experiencing a slow Mac after an update can be frustrating. However, with the right knowledge and tools, you can restore its performance. Remember, regular maintenance is key to a smooth and efficient Mac. Some Mac maintenance tips are as follows:

• Regularly update your Mac apps and software to keep everything running without bugs and glitches.
• Clear the cache and remove junk files on your Mac to prevent them from piling and causing performance issues.
• Regularly monitor your Mac CPU, GPU, and RAM to identify problematic behavior instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions