Mac Running Slow? Try These 20 Fixes to Speed Up Your Mac

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Hashir Ibrahim

Last updated: July 27, 2024

Expert verified

Is your Mac running slow and showing signs of sluggishness and lag, hindering your productivity? Over time, various factors can cause your Mac to slow down, but several effective fixes can help breathe new life into your system, optimizing its speed and responsiveness.

In this guide, I’ve shared tried and tested solutions that can help you revitalize your Mac’s performance. From simple maintenance tasks to advanced troubleshooting techniques, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of strategies to address common issues that can cause a Mac to run slowly.

What Makes Your Mac Run Slow?

Several factors can contribute to a Mac running slow. Here are some common reasons why your Mac’s performance might be affected:

1. 🐌 Insufficient RAM: If your Mac doesn’t have enough random access memory (RAM), it may struggle to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, leading to slow performance. Insufficient RAM can cause apps to load slowly, frequently freezing or lagging.
2. 💾 Limited Storage Space: When your Mac’s hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD) is nearly full, it can impact performance. Macs require free disk space to function optimally, as they use it for virtual memory and caching. Lack of storage space can slow file access and lead to slower overall system performance.
3. ⏱️ Outdated Operating System: Running an outdated macOS version can lead to slow performance. Apple regularly releases updates that include bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features. Keeping your operating system up to date ensures your Mac runs the latest optimizations and enhancements.
4. 🔄 Background Processes and Startup Items: Having numerous background processes and applications set to launch at startup can slow down your Mac’s performance. These processes consume system resources, including CPU and memory, even when you’re not actively using them, resulting in decreased speed.
5. ⚙️ Resource-Intensive Applications: Running resource-intensive applications, such as video editing software or games, can strain your Mac’s hardware, especially if your system specifications are not optimized for those tasks. These applications can consume significant CPU, memory, and graphics resources, slowing system performance.
6. 📁 Fragmented or Corrupted Hard Drive: Mac’s hard drive can become fragmented over time, meaning that files are scattered across different physical locations on the disk. This fragmentation can result in slower file access and performance. Additionally, a corrupted hard drive or file system can cause issues and impact your Mac’s speed.
7. 🛡️ Malware or Adware Infections: Macs are generally more secure than other operating systems but are not immune to malware or adware infections. If your Mac is infected with malicious software, it can significantly slow down your system, hijack resources, and cause performance issues.

Give Your Mac a Speed Boost With MacKeeper

MacKeeper is the ultimate solution to give your Mac a powerful speed boost. This comprehensive software suite is designed specifically for Mac users, offering various performance-enhancing tools and utilities.

With its intuitive interface and advanced optimization features, MacKeeper optimizes your Mac’s performance, cleans up junk files, and protects your system from malware, all in one convenient package.

Follow the steps below to use MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner to free up the RAM on your Mac:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. Open 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.

How to Fix a Mac Running Slow

There are multiple solutions to get your Mac back up to speed and running smoothly. Below, I’ve shared a variety of techniques and troubleshooting steps to address the root causes of a slow Mac. So, let’s dive in and learn how to fix a Mac running slow issue.

1. Restart Your Mac

Over time, applications and processes running on your Mac can consume a significant amount of system memory (RAM). This can lead to reduced performance and slow down your computer.

Restarting your Mac closes all open programs and clears the memory, allowing your computer to start fresh and allocate resources more efficiently. You can restart your Mac by following these steps:

1. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the menu bar.
2. Select Restart from the drop-down menu.

3. Click the Restart button on the pop-up window to confirm that you want to restart your Mac.

4. Your Mac will restart.
5. After restarting, you should notice an improvement in your Mac’s speed.

2. Manage Login Items on Startup

When you start your Mac, certain applications and services may be set to launch automatically, consuming system resources and slowing down the startup process.

Managing login items on startup can potentially improve the performance of a slow Mac by reducing the number of applications and processes that launch automatically when you start up your computer.

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

1. Click the Apple icon and select System Settings.

2. Click General and select Login Items.

3. Review the list of startup items and select the ones you don’t want to launch at startup.
4. Next, click the small minus (-) button to remove the selected login items from the list.

4. Close the window, and the changes will take effect the next time you restart your Mac.

Besides doing it manually, you can automatically remove login items on your Mac using MacKeeper. Follow these steps to remove login items 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.

3. Limit Background Processes

Background processes, such as software updates, antivirus scans, or resource-intensive applications, can utilize a significant portion of the CPU’s processing power. This can leave fewer resources for other tasks, resulting in a slow Mac.

By reducing the number of background processes using the Mac Task Manager equivalent, i.e., Activity Monitor, you can free up CPU resources and allow the system to allocate more power to the tasks at hand, improving overall responsiveness.

Follow these steps to limit the number of background processes on your Mac:

1. To access Activity Monitor, go to the Applications folder, locate the Utilities folder within it, and launch Activity Monitor by double-clicking it.

2. You’ll find different categories in the Activity Monitor window, including CPU, Memory, Energy, Disk, Network, and Cache.

3. Click the CPU tab and pay attention to processes utilizing a significant portion of system resources, such as those with high CPU usage.

3. Choose a process consuming a significant amount of resources, and you’ll find comprehensive details about it in the lower section of the Activity Monitor window.

4. If the process has a significant CPU load, you can quit by clicking the x button in the top toolbar.

5. Click the Quit button on the confirmation dialog to terminate the selected process.

6. After quitting a resource-hungry process, you will notice some improvement in your Mac’s performance.

4. Clean Up Your Hard Drive

Your Mac’s hard drive can accumulate unnecessary files and data over time, leading to a noticeable decline in performance. The best way to declutter your drive is to identify and eliminate these files. Below, I’ve shared a few methods to clean up your Mac’s hard drive:

First, identify which files you no longer need and can safely delete. Such files might include outdated documents, unused applications, and duplicate or temporary files.

Next, select these files, right-click them, and choose Move to Bin from the menu. This action will transfer all unnecessary files to the Bin.

Moving files to the Bin only removes them from your folder. These files are still in your Mac’s Bin and occupy disk space on your computer. You must empty Trash on your Mac by right-clicking the Bin icon in the Dock and selecting Empty Bin to remove these files permanently.

5. Clear Cache Files on Mac

Cache files can accumulate over time and become bloated, taking up valuable disk space. In some cases, these files can become corrupted or outdated, which may lead to performance issues and Mac running slow.

By clearing cache files, you’re essentially removing unnecessary data and potentially resolving any corruption issues. This can free up disk space, improve system responsiveness, and resolve certain performance problems.

Here are the steps to manually clear the cache files on your Mac and resolve performance issues:

1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock to open a Finder window.

2. In the menu bar, click Go and then Go to Folder.

3. In the Go to Folder window, type the following path and press Enter:

~/Library/Caches

4. Find the folder for the application you want to clear the cache for. Look for folders with the same name as the app.
5. Right-click the folder and select Move to Bin from the menu.

6. Click Empty Bin to delete the folder permanently.

7. Restart your Mac to see if its speed improves.

Alternatively, you can clean junk files on your Mac with MacKeeper to avoid the confusion of manually finding cache files and folders.

Follow these steps to clear the cache on your Mac using MacKeeper:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. Open MacKeeper and click Safe Cleanup in the left sidebar.

3. Click Start Scan.

4. Wait for the scan to complete, and select the junk files you want to delete. You can also click Check All to select all.

5. Click Clean Junk Files.

6. A Cleaning Completed notification will appear with the size of junk files removed. Click Rescan to run the scan again.

6. Declutter Your Desktop

A cluttered desktop with numerous files, folders, and icons can impact system performance. Each icon on your desktop requires system resources to render and update. Reducing the number of items on your desktop can alleviate the strain on your Mac’s resources, leading to improved performance.

Decluttering your Mac desktop involves organizing files, folders, and icons to create a cleaner and more efficient workspace. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you declutter your desktop:

1. Create a plan: Before organizing your desktop, plan how you want to structure your files and folders. Consider logical categories and how you can minimize the number of items on your desktop.
2. Create folders: Create folders on your desktop to group similar files together. To create a new folder, right-click on your Mac desktop, select New Folder, and give it a name that reflects its contents.

3. Sort files: Go through the files on your desktop and begin sorting them into the appropriate folders you created. Consider the type of files, projects, or any other classification system that suits your needs.
4. Delete unnecessary files: Identify any files on your desktop you no longer need or rarely use. Delete them by dragging them to the Bin or using the Move to Bin option when right-clicking the file.

5. Review and organize folders: Once you’ve sorted your files into folders, review each folder and ensure they are organized logically.
6. Use the Dock: Instead of cluttering your desktop with shortcuts to frequently used applications, utilize the Dock at the bottom of your screen. Drag and drop frequently accessed apps onto the Dock for quick access, reducing desktop clutter.
7. Use Stacks: Mac provides a helpful functionality known as Stacks, which automatically arranges files on your desktop. Simply right-click the desktop, navigate to the Use Stacks option, and choose the sorting preference that best fits your needs, such as organizing by date, file type, or tag.

7. Run a Virus Scan on Your Mac

Running a virus scan on your Mac can potentially fix a slow-running Mac if the slowness is caused by malware or malicious software. Malware can consume system resources, run background processes, and slow down your Mac. By running a virus scan, you can identify and remove any malware on your system and improve its performance.

Here’s how you can run a virus scan on your Mac using MacKeeper:

1. Download and install MacKeeper.
2. Launch MacKeeper and navigate to the Antivirus tab in the left sidebar.

3. Initiate an instant virus scan by clicking the Start Scan button.

4. If viruses are detected during the scan, click the Fix Items button to resolve the issues.
5. If your system is threat-free, you’ll see a No threats found message. You can tap the Restart button to run the scan again.

6. Enable real-time antivirus protection to safeguard your Mac from future threats by clicking the Enable button.

After you have configured your security settings, MacKeeper will continue to operate in the background, diligently scanning for threats and actively blocking any malicious activity.

8. Check for macOS Updates

Checking for macOS updates can potentially help fix a slow-running Mac by addressing software-related issues and improving system performance. Apple regularly releases macOS updates that include bug fixes and performance enhancements. These updates can address known issues causing your Mac to run slowly. 

If you want to update macOS on your Mac to speed up Mac running slow, here are the steps to follow:

1. Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.

2. Click General and select Software Update to open the updates menu.

3. Your Mac will automatically scan for updates. If your Mac is already running the latest macOS version, it will display your current system version. However, if an update is available, you can simply click the Update Now button to initiate the download and installation process.

4. Once the update has been successfully installed, you will notice an enhancement in your Mac’s performance.

9. Free Up RAM on Your Mac

Freeing up RAM (Random Access Memory) on your Mac can improve its speed and overall performance. When your Mac runs out of available RAM, it starts using a portion of your hard drive called virtual memory, which is significantly slower and can result in decreased performance.

Here’s how you can free up RAM on your Mac using Activity Monitor:

1. Go to the Applications folder, open the Utilities folder, and double-click Activity Monitor to launch it.

2. In the Activity Monitor window, click the Memory tab to view a list of processes and their corresponding memory usage.

3. The processes are sorted by the amount of memory they use, with the highest at the top. You can also sort them in your desired order by clicking the Memory filter.

4. If you notice any unresponsive applications that are not closing through normal means, select the process and click the X button in the top toolbar.

5. Click the Quit button on the pop-up window to terminate it.

6. Once you have quit memory-intensive applications, restart your Mac. Restarting clears out the RAM and improves performance.

10. Uninstall Unused Apps

Uninstalling unused apps can speed up a slow Mac by reducing the disk space they occupy and freeing up system resources. When you uninstall applications you no longer use, you reclaim valuable disk space and give your Mac more breathing room to operate efficiently.

You can use Launchpad to uninstall unused apps on your Mac. Follow these simple steps to use Launchpad to uninstall apps on your Mac:

1. Open Launchpad by clicking the Launchpad icon in the Dock or using the Mac keyboard shortcut key: F4.

2. Navigate through the list of apps in Launchpad until you locate the app you wish 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 initiate app deletion.

4. A confirmation pop-up window will appear, asking you to confirm the deletion. Click the Delete button to confirm, and the app will be moved 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.

Alternatively, you can use MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller to uninstall multiple unwanted apps in one go. Follow these steps to free your Mac of unwanted apps and boost its speed:

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.

11. Limit Visual Animations

Limiting visual animations on a Mac can improve its speed by reducing the amount of graphical processing power required for rendering animations and transitions. This can be particularly useful if you have an older or slower Mac struggling with visual effects.

Here are a few methods you can try:

a. Reduce Motion Effects

1. Click the Apple menu in the upper left corner of your screen and select System Settings.

2. Click Accessibility and select Display from the right sidebar.

3. Toggle off the Reduce motion switch to minimize animation effects, such as window minimizing and maximizing.

b. Disable Transparency Effects

1. Click the Apple menu in the upper left corner of your screen and select System Settings.

2. Click Accessibility and select Display from the right sidebar.

3. Toggle off the Reduce transparency switch to disable transparent backgrounds and menus.

c. Minimize Window Effects

1. In the System Settings window, locate and click the Desktop & Dock tab.

2. Toggle off the Animate opening applications to disable the animation when launching apps.

3. Adjust the Minimize windows using option to Scale effect instead of Genie effect.

By implementing these changes, you can reduce the demand on your Mac’s graphics card and CPU, potentially improving its overall performance and responsiveness.

However, while these adjustments can enhance system speed, they may also impact the visual experience and remove the aesthetic appeal of macOS.

12. Reset the SMC

Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on a Mac can sometimes resolve various performance-related issues, including a Mac running slow.

The SMC manages various hardware components and functions on your Mac, such as power management, battery charging, thermal management, and more. By resetting the SMC, you can restore these functions to their default settings, potentially resolving any underlying issues that may be causing the slowdown.

Here’s how you can reset the SMC on different Mac models:

a. MacBook with a Non-Removable Battery

1. Shut down your MacBook.

2. Connect the power adapter to your MacBook.
3. Press and hold the Shift ⇧ + Control ^ + Option ⌥ keys on the built-in keyboard with the Power button for about 10 seconds.

4. Release all keys and the Power button.
5. Press the Power button to turn on your MacBook.

b. MacBook with a Removable Battery

1. Shut down your MacBook.

2. Remove the battery.

3. Press and hold the Power button for about five seconds.

4. Reinsert the battery.

5. Press the Power button to turn on your MacBook.

After resetting the SMC, your Mac’s performance may improve, as it can resolve certain power-related issues, temperature management problems, and other potential causes of slowdowns.

13. Reset the NVRAM/PRAM

Resetting the NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) or PRAM (parameter random-access memory) on a Mac can also potentially resolve certain issues that may contribute to a slow-running Mac.

NVRAM/PRAM stores various settings related to system configuration and hardware settings. Resetting it can clear out any corrupt or outdated settings that might be impacting the performance of your Mac.

Here’s how you can reset the NVRAM/PRAM on Intel-based Macs:

1. Shut down your Mac.

2. Press the Power button, and immediately hold down the following keys: Command ⌘ + Option ⌥ + P + R.

3. Keep holding the keys until you hear the startup sound for the second time or see the Apple logo appear and disappear for the second time.
4. Release the keys.
5. Your Mac will continue with the startup process.

14. Close Extra Browser Tabs

By closing extra browser tabs, you can alleviate the strain on system resources and memory, allowing your Mac to distribute its capabilities more efficiently. This, in turn, can lead to improved responsiveness and overall performance.

To optimize resource allocation on your Mac and improve its speed, free up memory by closing unnecessary tabs. Here’s how to close unused tabs on Mac:

1. Evaluate the open tabs in your browser and determine which ones you can close. Identify unused tabs or the ones consuming significant resources, such as those displaying videos or complex web applications.
2. To close a specific tab, locate the small x button on the left side of the tab and click it.

3. Alternatively, you can close the active tab using the keyboard shortcut: Command ⌘ + W.

4. If you wish to close multiple tabs simultaneously, right-click one of the tabs and choose the Close Other Tabs or Close Tabs to the Right option.

While closing unnecessary tabs can free up system resources, the actual impact on your Mac’s speed may vary depending on your browser, the number of open tabs, and the specific websites or applications running within those tabs.

15. Rebuild the Spotlight Index

Spotlight is the built-in search feature in macOS that lets you quickly find files, applications, and other information on your computer. The Spotlight index can become outdated or corrupted over time, leading to slow performance.

When you rebuild the Spotlight index, the system scans all the files and folders on your Mac and creates a fresh index, which can help improve the efficiency of search operations.

Here’s how you can reindex Spotlight on your Mac:

1. Click the Apple menu in the upper left corner of your screen and select System Settings.

2. In the System Settings window, locate and click the Siri & Spotlight tab.

3. In the Spotlight settings, click the Spotlight Privacy button.

4. Click the + button at the bottom left of the Privacy window.

5. A new window will appear. Select your startup disk (usually Macintosh HD or similar), and click Choose.

6. Click OK on the warning prompt, and Spotlight will stop indexing its contents.
7. Next, select your hard drive from the list, and click the – button at the bottom left of the window to remove it.

9. Spotlight will now reindex your Mac’s contents, which may take some time.
10. Once the process is complete, the disk will be automatically added to the list of locations.

16. Delete Unnecessary Widgets

Widgets on your Mac can consume system resources such as CPU cycles, memory, and energy. If you have many widgets running simultaneously, they may consume a significant amount of resources, slowing down your Mac.

Removing unnecessary widgets frees up system resources for other processes, potentially leading to improved performance. To delete unnecessary widgets on a Mac, follow these steps:

1. Open your Mac’s Notification Center by clicking the date or time in the top-right corner of the menu bar.

2. Click Edit Widgets at the bottom of the Notification Center.

3. Click the minus (–) button to remove any widgets you don’t need.

4. Repeat these steps for each widget you want to remove.

After deleting unnecessary widgets, you should notice a potential improvement in your Mac’s performance. However, it’s important to note that removing widgets alone may not solve all performance issues.

17. Delete Unnecessary Browser Extensions

Each browser extension you install consumes memory and processing power. While some extensions may be lightweight and have minimal impact, others can be resource-intensive, causing your Mac to slow down.

By removing unnecessary extensions, you free up system resources for other tasks, resulting in improved overall performance. Below, I have shared the steps to remove browser extensions on Mac from Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.

a. On Safari

1. Open Safari on your Mac, click Safari in the menu bar and select Settings from the drop-down menu.

2. Click the Extensions tab to view all the installed extensions.

3. Find the extension you want to remove and click it.

4. Click the Uninstall button to confirm that you want to remove the extension.

b. On Google Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome by clicking its icon in your Dock or search for it in the Applications folder.

2. Click the three-dot icon on the top right corner of the Chrome window. Hover your mouse over More Tools and select Extensions from the submenu.

3. Find the extension you want to remove from the list of installed extensions. Click the Remove button next to the extension you want to uninstall. Confirm the removal when prompted.

c. On Firefox

1. Open Firefox on your Mac by clicking its icon in the Dock or Applications folder.

2. Click Firefox in the menu bar and select Settings from the drop-down menu.

4. Click Extensions & Themes in the left sidebar to view all the extensions installed in Firefox.

5. Find the extension you want to remove and click the three dots icon. Tap Remove in the drop-down menu.

6. Click Remove again to confirm that you want to remove the extension.

18. Disable iCloud Syncing

Disabling iCloud syncing can potentially speed up a slow Mac by reducing the number of background processes and network activity associated with syncing data to and from iCloud. Here are the steps you can follow to disable iCloud syncing:

1. Click the Apple menu in the upper left corner of your screen and select System Settings.

2. In the System Settings window, click your Apple ID and select iCloud.

3. You’ll see a list of apps syncing to your iCloud in the iCloud settings.

4. Select each app and toggle off the Sync this Mac switch to disable syncing.

5. To further disable iCloud syncing, click iCloud Drive.

6. Select App syncing to iCloud Drive.

7. Toggle off each app you want to stop syncing to the iCloud Drive and tap Done.

Disabling iCloud syncing can reduce the strain on your Mac’s resources, especially if you have a large amount of data stored in iCloud or a slow internet connection.

However, it’s important to note that disabling iCloud syncing may limit your ability to access and sync data across multiple devices, so consider the trade-offs before making changes.

19. Update All Apps

Updating apps on your Mac can help improve its slow speed by addressing performance issues, optimizing code, and fixing bugs that may be present in older versions of the software.

App developers often release updates that include performance enhancements. These updates can include optimizations to make the software run more efficiently, use fewer system resources, and provide a smoother user experience.

Follow these steps to update apps on Mac:

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 selected app. Repeat the same steps for all apps.

If you’re looking for a one-click solution to keep your Mac apps up to date, consider using MacKeeper’s Update Tracker. Here’s how to use Update Tracker to update apps on macOS:

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. This can take a while depending on the number and size of updates.

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

20. Add More RAM

If you have an older Mac, enhancing its hardware could breathe new life into it. If your Mac is running sluggishly and you have tried everything to speed it up, it may have reached the end of its life. You can increase the RAM capacity to give it a boost.

You can determine how much RAM your Mac utilizes by launching the Activity Monitor and navigating to the Memory tab. To gain further insights into this topic, I have composed a separate guide dedicated to upgrading your Mac’s RAM.

Mac Running Slow? Never Again!

By following the tips I shared in this guide, you can make sure never to have a sluggish Mac again. However, if you need more help, here are a few tips to optimize your Mac’s performance:

• Browser cache can also affect your Mac’s performance. So, clear your browser cache on Mac regularly.
• If your Mac is still acting up, try clearing system data on your Mac.
• When you delete unwanted files, they pile up in your Bin. So, always empty trash on Mac to delete the files completely and improve your Mac’s performance.

Frequently Asked Questions