Tips to Speed Up Your Mac: Stop unnecessary processes with Activity Monitor. Houd macOS up-to-date. Clear your cache, close unused browser tabs, and remove unnecessary browser extensions to free up memory. Restart your Mac to apply updates and clear temporary files. Manage startup programs to reduce boot time. Whether it's an old Mac, a new Mac, iMac, or MacBook Air, there will come a point where apps stop responding, take forever to boot, and videos start to stutter. If you're constantly wondering, "Why is my Mac so slow?" Keep reading to find out how to speed up your Mac once and for all. This article contains: Your Mac may be slow due to an outdated operating system or a full hard drive, especially if you have an older Mac model. If your Mac is new, it may be running slow because you are using too many background programs and apps or even have a malware infection. Here are some common reasons why your Mac is running slowly: Too many background processes Demanding images Outdated apps or macOS And malware infection Of course, these are just some of the possible reasons why your Mac is running slower than normal. The steps below to speed up your Mac apply to all Mac devices. Although the specific instructions use a MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) as an example, the steps differ little (if at all) from how to speed up an iMac, for example. Whether your iMac is slow, your Mac Pro needs an adjustment, your Macbook Pro is running slow, or you want your MacBook Pro to run faster, we can help. All instructions below can help you speed up these Mac models: MacBook Air (2017 - 2022) MacBook Pro (2016-2022) iMac (all available models) iMac Pro Mac proKey learning points
Why is my Mac running slow?
All Macs, even powerful MacBook Pros and iMacs, sometimes don't notify you when a certain process is using too much CPU or memory. This is especially true if a process you are running is buggy or if an app you are using has already crashed.
Over the years, Apple has lightened up the heavy graphics and visuals that attracted users who prioritized strong graphics and design. But macOS is still packed with visual effects that put a heavy burden on older Mac hardware. These processes use more resources and also affect battery performance.
Regularly check that your operating system and all installed apps are up to date. The latest versions of your operating system and apps tend to run faster, include important security fixes, and have fewer bugs that cause slowdowns.
Although unlikely,Macs can get viruses. To ensure that a malware infection isn't slowing down your Mac, scan your Mac regularly with a free malware scanning tool, such asAvast Security for Mac.Solutions for MacBooks, Air, Mac mini, and iMacs run slowly
Mac-studio
Mac mini (2014 - 2020)
Keep reading to find out why your iMac is so slow, how to speed up a MacBook Pro, and how to make your Mac run faster in general, no matter which model you have.
Is it just the internet that is slow?
Before we get started, make sure that some outside influence isn't causing slow internet on your Mac. Slow internet or browser speeds can be caused by problems with your router or your internet connection in general - which means your Mac is just fine!
So if you are wondering why the internet is so slow on your Mac, check if the internet speed is slowing down your Mac. UsageSpeed testto check the speed of your internet connection.
If your results are lower than normal or inconsistent after multiple attempts, your slow Mac may be due to a poor internet connection. Try resetting your router or moving your computer closer to it. So read onhow to speed up your internet connection.
We also advise regularlyclear your browsing historyInremoval of unnecessary browser cookiesto keep things moving quickly.
How to Speed Up Your Mac
There are plenty of effective performance optimization techniques to speed up your iMac, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, or any other Mac. But before you try to make your Mac run faster, restart your computer and start from a clean slate.
Here are the best ways to speed up a Mac:
1. Clean up system files and documents
File clutter can lead to unresponsive programs and reduced disk space, which can significantly slow down your Mac.Cleans up your Mac- such as clearing temporary data from the Trash or junk files - helps solve these problems and speed up your Mac.
Manually sorting through junk files can be time-consuming, especially on older machines.Avast Cleanup for Macwill automatically get the job done in no time. We find old files you no longer use, clean up duplicate documents you didn't know you had, and even update your apps to keep your system clean and your Mac faster.
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2. Detect and terminate demanding processes
If your Mac is slowing down or getting hot, a demanding process could be the cause. How to detect and stop a demanding process and speed up your Mac:
ClickGoin your macOS menu bar, selectUtilitiesand selectActivity monitor.
click onCPUtab at the top and select% CPUto sort the running processes based on the amount of computing power they use. Programs that use a higher CPU percentage will slow down your Mac faster.
Tip: Ignore processes related tomacOS, asWindowServer,kernel_task, Insystem, because these are necessary system processes. Check if there are any applications you installed yourself - marked below with your usernameUsercolumn.
Find processes that use more than 5% to 10% of the CPU. If you are sure you want to stop the process, select it and then clickXknob. To electExitofForce exitto stop the process.
Switch to other tabs to find demanding processesMemory,Energy(battery life), yourDisk, or even yoursNetworkif your internet connection is slow. BelowEnergy, Sort by12 hours of electricityto see a list of the apps that drain the battery the most over the past 12 hours.
3. Speed up boot time: Manage startup programs
Why is your Mac so slow right after you start it up? This could be due to unnecessary startup programs. You candisable Mac startup programs, speed up boot time and reduce background processes – all of this will help speed up your Mac.
To prevent apps from launching when you start your Mac:
openAppelmenu and go toSystem preferences>Users and groups.
ClickLog in articles. If you see something you don't need at startup, select it and clickminus icon.
Then check if there are any other hidden startup items. To open it, clickGoin your macOS menu bar and press and holdPossibilitykey on your keyboard. A new element will appear with the namelibrary. Click here.
Scroll until you see itLaunch DaemonsInLaunchAgenten. Both are part of installed applications that start automatically. If you're sure you don't need it, move it to the trash.
4. Delete unused apps
You can also help speed up your Mac by searching your hard drive and removing installed programs that you no longer use. Here ishow to uninstall downloaded apps or macOS applicationsyou no longer need:
Go toWinner>Application. click onroostericon and selectLast opening date. This will sort all your apps by the date you last used them.
Drag any apps you no longer useWasteand empty the trash. This prevents old apps (and their data) from taking up valuable space and slowing down your Mac.
5. Perform a macOS system update
New macOS releases are used to slow down older Macs. Nowadays, with the latest releases, Apple focuses on trimming features and optimizing Mac performance, which often helps make your iMac, MacBook, Mac Mini and Mac Pro faster. Always keep your operating system up to date and enable automatic updates.
To check for updates and speed up your Mac:
openAppelmenu and go toSystem preferences>Software-update. Then wait while your Mac checks for updates.
ClickNo updateif an update is available, it may take a while, but you'll likely see a nice performance boost on your Mac. Also make sure thatKeep my Mac up to date automaticallybox is selected.
6. Upgrade your RAM
Outdated hardware is another reason that can slow down your Mac. One of the best ways to increase the speed of your Mac's hard drive is to add more of itRAM (Random Access Memory)– his short-term memory. Check out oursguide to upgrading RAM on Macor visit Apple's support pages to upgrade RAMMacBooks,Mac pro, ofiMac's.
Unless you're a professional video editor or programmer, you probably don't need to upgrade to more than 8GB or 16GB of RAM. You'll see the biggest performance and speed improvement if you upgrade from 1, 2, or 4 GB. We also recommendcheck your RAMCheck regularly for errors that could slow down your Mac.
7. Replace your HDD with an SSD
If you want to improve your performance even more, considerupgrade your Mac to a faster SSD. You want to move from a drive that loads your data and programs at a speed of 100 MB per second to one that runs at speeds up to 3500 MB per second. second - yes,difference between an HDD and an SSDis so big. Since the price ofSSD'shas dropped significantly, purchasing an SSD is one of the cheapest ways to upgrade and improve the speed of your Mac.
8. Reduce visual effects
High-quality built-in visual effects on macOS can have a huge impact on Mac performance, especially on older Macbooks or iMacs. How to Speed Up Your Mac by Easily Disabling Visual Effects and Animations.
openAppelmenu and go toSystem preferences>Availability.
to electScreenfrom the left panel and highlightReduce movementcheckbox. This setting can make older Macs faster by eliminating any extra motion effects.
9. Reset PRAM and SMC regularly
You can fix many performance issues and improve Mac speed byresetting the SMC and PRAM. It might even helpprevent your Mac from overheatingand resolve any Bluetooth connection issues.
What exactly does that mean? All Mac motherboards have oneSystem management controllerwhich controls basic computer functions such as Wi-Fi, power management, and hardware connections. ThatSTROLLER(Parameter Random Access Memory) contains important settings such as volume, keyboard backlight and performance information.
If your Mac is running slowly, try resetting the SMC and PRAM to fix the problem.
Reset SMC: Step by Step (MacBooks with Non-Removable Battery)
These steps only work on MacBooks with non-removable batteries, such as the 2016-2019 MacBook Pro Retina models with Touch Bar. Turn off your MacBook to reset the SMC. Then hold downMovement+To steer+PossibilityKeys. Continue holding these keys and then press and hold the power button. Hold down all the keys for ten seconds, then release them and turn on your Mac as normal.
Reset SMC: Step by Step (MacBooks with Removable Battery)
This works on MacBooks that still have a removable battery. Turn off your MacBook, unplug the power cord, and remove the battery. Then press and hold the power button for five seconds, reinsert the battery, and plug in your MacBook. This should make your MacBook faster if it is running slowly.
Reset the SMC: Step by Step (on Mac minis, Mac Pros, iMacs)
This is the easiest way to speed up your iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro. Turn off your Mac completely and unplug the power cord. Wait at least 20 seconds and then reconnect the plug. Voila! SMC reset achieved.
Reset PRAM: Step by Step (All Macs)
To reset the PRAM, shut down your Mac. Press and hold after pressing the power buttonCommando+Possibility+P. Hold the buttons until your Mac restarts and then release the buttons. This should fix many of the causes of a slow Mac, improve performance issues and make your Mac run faster.
10. Clear the cache on your Mac
Cached files are intended to improve Mac performance by making data more easily available. But as your browser, system, and app caches build up over time, your Mac becomes clogged with junk files that take up valuable storage space and slow you down. On regular basisclear your Mac cachePreventing clutter from building up will keep your Mac running faster and running smoothly.
While it is possible to clear caches manually, it is not advisable to snoop through your app and system caches unless you know what you are doing. The best way to delete unnecessary files without deleting important data is to use a special optimization app such asAvast Cleanup for Mac, which automatically keeps your machine refined.
11. Close browser tabs you are not using
Every open browser tab actively uses your computer's resources, whether you actually use it or not. So leaving multiple unused tabs idle in your browser window eats up memory and processing power that could be put to better use.
It's fine to keep a few tabs open as you browse back and forth, but you should close any tabs you don't need at the moment to free up RAM and CPU and free up resources to boost the performance of your Mac to improve.
Worried about being able to find a tab the next time you need it? Bookmarking tabs and organizing them into folders on your bookmarks bar is a great way to keep all your frequently used and recently used tabs easily accessible without slowing down your Mac.
12. Remove browser extensions
Just like browser tabs, browser extensions can be a major hindrance to your Mac's performance. Any extensions that you are not actively using should be removed first. For example, do you really need the ChatGPT extension or similar plugin tools, or can you just bookmark them instead?
To remove extensions in most browsers, click the puzzle-shaped extension icon in the upper right corner of the browser window, clickManage extensionsand then disable the extensions or remove them completely, depending on your preferences.
13. Rearrange the files on your desktop
Having a cluttered, disorganized desktop not only slows you down when you're trying to find the files you need; it also slows down your computer. That's because every icon on your desktop takes up space in your Mac's memory.
By rearranging files into folders and then keeping only the folders you need on your desktop, you reduce the number of icons your Mac has to load and reduce RAM usage in the background.
14. Check if your hardware is defective
It's no secret that hardware deteriorates over time and may need to be repaired, replaced or upgraded. If left unchecked, faulty components can cause delays, errors, crashes and ultimately the dreaded consequencesblue screen of death. Learn how to tell if hardware is slowing you downhow to check if your hard drive is defective, Incheck your CPU temperatureand status of other critical components.
Even if you're not currently experiencing any performance issues, it's important to give your computer a regular hardware check to prevent minor issues from becoming major ones.
15. Restart your device
Before many of the solutions above take effect, you'll need to restart your Mac. Restarting your Mac will permanently delete temporary files and allow updates to drivers, apps, and your operating system to be implemented.
If you leave your Mac on permanently, it never gets a chance to perform these resets, leading to slower performance and more errors. So even if you are in the habit of leaving your computer in sleep or hibernation mode overnight, you should shut down Macbook Pro and Macbook Air devices every few days.
Now clean up your Mac
The fastest Macs are the cleanest Macs. If you run out of disk space, you will almost certainly experience performance issues. Therefore, we recommend that you keep your Mac clean and running fastAvast Cleanup for Mac, which removes junk files, duplicate data, and even duplicate poor-quality images. Optimize performance today with Avast Cleanup for Mac.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How to Easily Speed Up a Mac
There are several ways to speed up a Mac device, but the easiest and most effective method is to use a dedicated Mac optimization tool likeAvast Cleanup for Macthat automatically deletes junk files, frees up storage space and keeps your system streamlined for faster, smoother performance.
Can a virus slow down a Mac?
Despite popular misconceptions,Macs can get virusesand other forms ofmalware. Malicious software not only compromises your privacy and security, but can also slow down your Mac and cause other performance issues. To find andremove viruses from your Mac, use a special onevirus scannerInmalware removal toolwhich can also prevent reinfections.
How can I clean up my Mac?
Macs overflowing with clutter are likely to suffer from painfully long boot times, sluggish processing, and slow page loads. Fortunately, it is easy to cleanunwanted apps, files and other digital junk clogging up your MacOther storage. INbrowser cleaning toolwill do all thatclear your cacheIndelete cookies, Also.
Is there a way to test Mac speed?
There are variousMac performance testtools to help you see how fast your Mac is currently running. These tools are a great starting point when it comes to diagnosing and fixing problems and speeding up your Mac.
Can I also speed up my iPhone?
Yes. Just as you can improve the speed of your Mac, you can toospeed up your iPhoneby following the steps corresponding tospeed up an Androidunity andspeed up a PC. To speed up your iPhone, delete unused apps, manage background processes, and keep your software and operating system up to date.
