TL;DR
To speed up a slow Mac:
- Remove unnecessary files and uninstall unused apps to free up space and boost performance.
- Use Activity Monitor to identify and quit processes that consume too much system resources.
- Reduce startup time by disabling unnecessary applications from launching when you start your Mac.
- Regularly update your macOS and apps to ensure optimal performance and security.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
Over time, any computer can start to slow down, and Macs are no exception. When I noticed my Mac wasn’t as fast as it used to be, I knew I had to find a fix. In this post, I’ll share what worked for me so you can get your Mac running smoothly again, too.
13 Best Ways to Speed Up a Slow Mac
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Here are 13 easy ways I found to speed it up and get your Mac running smoothly again:
1. Clean Up Your Hard Drive
Here are a few ways you can clean up your hard drive to free up space:
a. Delete Unnecessary Files
- Determine which files are unnecessary (old documents, unused apps, duplicates, temporary files).
- Select these files, right-click, and click Move to Bin.
- However, moving files to the Bin doesn’t mean they are removed from your system. Right-click the Bin icon in the Dock and select Empty Bin to permanently delete the files.
b. Uninstall Unused Apps
Here is how to delete unnecessary applications on your Mac:
- Open Launchpad from the Dock or use the Launchpad keyboard shortcut on Mac (F4 key).
- Find the application you want to remove.
- Click and hold the application icon until it starts shaking.
- Click the X icon that appears on the top left corner of the application’s icon.
- Click Delete in the confirmation dialog.
2. Quit Resource-Hungry Processes
To quit resource-hungry processes on a Mac and potentially speed up your computer, you can follow these steps:
Keep in mind that certain processes are necessary for the functioning of macOS and important applications. Terminating critical processes can result in instability or unexpected behavior.
- Open Activity Monitor by navigating to the Applications folder, then opening the Utilities folder, and finally clicking Activity Monitor.
- In the Activity Monitor window, you’ll see a list of processes sorted by various categories. Look for processes consuming a significant amount of system resources.
- Select a resource-hungry process from the list, and you’ll see detailed information about it in the lower half of the Activity Monitor window. .
- Once you have identified a resource-hungry process that you want to quit, select it from the list and click the x button in the toolbar.
- A confirmation dialog will appear, asking if you want to quit the process. Click “Quit” to terminate the selected process.
If you identify multiple resource-hungry processes, you can repeat the above to quit them one by one.
3. Manage Login Items
While login items allow you to have certain applications or processes readily available and running without manually launching them every time you start your Mac, too many login items can slow down your computer and increase its startup time.
Here’s how to manage your login items on Mac:
- Click the Apple icon and select System Settings.
- Click General and select Login Items.
- Review the list of startup items and select the ones you don’t want to launch at startup. Then, click the small minus (-) button to remove it from the list.
- Close the window, and the changes will take effect the next time you restart your Mac.
4. Clear the Cache Files
Clearing the cache files regularly ensures your Mac operates smoothly by freeing up storage and allowing applications to function optimally. Here are the steps to manually clear the cache files on your Mac and reclaim valuable disk space:
- Click the Finder icon in the Dock to open a Finder window.
- In the menu bar, click Go and then Go to Folder.
- In the Go to Folder window, type the following path and press Enter:
~/Library/Caches
- Locate the folder for the application you want to clear the cache for. If you’re not sure which folder belongs to the app, you can look for folders with the same name as the app.
- Right-click the folder and select Move to Bin from the menu.
- Click Empty Bin to delete the folder permanently.
- Restart your Mac to see if its speed improves.
5. Run a Virus Scan on Your Mac With Antivirus
If you suspect your Mac is infected with malware or a virus, scan your Mac and remove malicious software. Here’s how to use MacKeeper to run a virus scan on your Mac:
- Download and install MacKeeper.
- Launch MacKeeper and navigate to the Antivirus tab in the left sidebar.
- Initiate an instant virus scan by clicking the Start Scan button.
- If viruses are detected during the scan, click the Fix Items button to resolve the issues.
- 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.
- 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 a
6. Disable Visual Effects
Fancy animations and visual effects may look impressive, but they can also slow down your Mac. Follow these steps to disable visual effects:
- Click the Apple menu in the upper left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
- In the System Settings window, locate and click the Desktop & Dock tab.
- In the right pane, toggle off the Automatically hide and show the Dock and Animate opening applications options.
- Choose Scale Effect in the drop-down menu next to Minimise windows using.
- Next, locate and click the Accessibility icon in the left sidebar of System Settings. Then, select Display in the right pane.
- In Display settings, toggle off the Reduce motion switch. This option reduces the animations and motion effects in the user interface.
- Once you have made the desired changes, close the System Settings window.
While disabling visual effects can enhance performance, it may also affect the aesthetic appeal of your Mac’s user interface. If you prefer a visually rich experience, keep some visual effects enabled, striking a balance between aesthetics and performance based on your preferences.
7. Update macOS and Mac Apps
a. Update Apps on Mac
Here’s how to update apps on Mac to ensure you’re always running the latest versions:
- Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and select App Store.
- Click the Updates tab in the App Store window.
- If updates are available, you will see a list of apps that can be updated.
- Click the Update button next to each app that has an update available.
- And just like that, you’ve updated an app on your Mac. Now, follow the same steps for all apps to get them up to speed.
b. Update macOS
If you want to update macOS on your Mac, here are the steps to follow:
- Click the Apple menu in the upper left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
- Click General and select Software Update to open the updates menu.
- Your Mac will check for updates automatically. If your Mac is up-to-date, it will show your current macOS version. But if an update is available, click the Update Now button to download and install it.
Wait for the update to finish downloading and installing. Once the update is installed, you will notice a significant improvement in your Mac’s performance.
Advanced Techniques to Speed Up Your Mac
If none of the above methods didn’t boost your Mac’s speed, don’t worry, here are some advanced techniques:
1. Run Apple Diagnostics
Running Apple Diagnostics helps ensure the optimal performance of your Mac by detecting any underlying hardware issues that might impact its speed and functionality. By identifying and addressing hardware problems, you can prevent further complications and potential slowdowns caused by faulty components.
Apple Diagnostics primarily focuses on hardware diagnostics and may not directly address software-related performance issues.
Read my this detailed guide on how to run Apple Diagnostic on Mac.
2. Reinstall macOS
Reinstalling macOS can potentially speed up your Mac by addressing various software-related issues that might be causing performance slowdowns. It essentially provides a clean slate, removing unnecessary files, system clutter, and problematic configurations.
Check out my detailed guide on how to reinstall macOS on Mac to get step-by-step instructions.
3. Upgrade Your Mac’s Hardware
If your Mac is older, a hardware upgrade can boost its performance:
- Upgrade Storage: Switching from an HDD to an SSD can drastically improve speed and reliability, making a significant difference in your Mac’s performance.
- Upgrade RAM: Adding more RAM can speed up your Mac, especially if it’s running slow. Check your current RAM usage in Activity Monitor under the Memory tab.
Remember, not all Mac models allow for hardware upgrades. Be sure to check your model before purchasing any new components.
Speed Up Your Mac and Extend Its Lifespan
Slowing Mac performance can be a hindrance, but with the strategies I shared above, you can give your machine a significant speed boost. And if you’re looking for more, here’s a few more tips to help you optimize your Mac’s performance:
- If your Mac slows down after an update, read this guide to resolve this issue.
- Knowing how to prevent overheating can make a big difference in your Mac’s performance.
- Managing disk space effectively is key to avoiding slowdowns from a full hard drive.
