If it gets bogged down by a resource-hungry process, it’ll slow everything else down.Ĭlick the arrow on % CPU to sort by the highest percentage. Your central processing unit is what computes everything you do. Select Activity Monitor, which will show you a variety of information about your system and device performance.Ĭlick the tab for CPU at the top. Open Finder, click Go, and then select Utilities. Let’s dig a little deeper and see what’s really dragging your Mac down.
Find and disable the most power-hungry processes Not sure which apps will give you the most bang for your buck, space-wise? Let’s find out which programs take up the most space and power on your system.
And don’t worry you can always download the app again from the App Store if you find yourself missing it later. Repeat the process to get rid of other apps you no longer use. Select the app you want to delete.ĭrag the app to your Trash to uninstall it, and then make sure to empty the Trash.īoom! Now the app is off your computer, where it can no longer eat up your space or CPU power. Scroll down to the bottom to find apps you haven’t used in a long time.
Here’s how to uninstall apps:įind the little grid icon and select Date Last Opened. Unused apps can take up lots of space and bog you down, and they may be another reason why your Mac is running slow. If you see apps you don’t actually use here, skip to the next section to get rid of them.
The App Store will then display all the apps you own that have possible updates, including the reason they should be updated - such as “bug fixes” or “stability and performance improvements.”Ĭlick on the individual app you want to update and follow the instructions. Click the Apple again, then select App Store if you see that there are updates available. If you have outdated apps, you should update those as well. Your computer will take some time to update your system, and will then need to restart. Ĭheck the box to keep your system updated automatically.
Software updates include security fixes and other necessary improvements that can make your Mac run faster.Ĭheck the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of your desktop.Ĭlick on System Preferences to see if there’s a macOS update. Here’s how to speed up your Mac in 10 easy steps. If your Mac is running slow, follow the tips in this guide to speed up your MacBook, iMac, or other Mac model and get it running like new. Once you’ve determined that your internet service isn’t the issue, then it’s time to jump into our tips to speed up macOS. If you’re still struggling with slow speeds after that, it’s time to call your internet service provider to see what’s going on and whether they can fix it on their end. If you’re not getting fast enough speeds, try our favorite methods for boosting your home Wi-Fi signal. Go to and run their test - it only takes a few seconds! Slow internet connection: If your browsing and video streaming is too slow or stuttering, the problem might not be your Mac at all - it may be caused by a slow internet connection.Īge and overuse: If you’re still rocking a 2004 MacBook, or if you constantly use lots of process-heavy apps like video editors or games on an older machine, your computer is going to be a little worse for the wear.īefore we dive into our top ten ways to speed up macOS, let’s check your internet speed. Visual effects: macOS contains a lot of visual effects that can be taxing on older Mac computers, draining your battery and slowing you down. These unnecessary processes can eat up precious CPU power and RAM. Too many startup programs and background processes: You may have apps that start automatically every time you boot up your system and/or run quietly in the background while you work on other tasks. If you’re running old versions, they could very well be slowing you down. The same applies to most apps and programs. Out-of-date software: Apple generally produces new macOS versions because the newer versions run faster and better. And if you’re using a hard disk drive (HDD), lack of space means you can’t defrag your disk to help boost performance.
If it’s chock-full of apps and large files, there won’t be enough space left to help apps and other processes run. Insufficient RAM: If your computer doesn’t have enough short-term memory ( RAM), it will struggle to complete everyday tasks like running programs and browsing the internet.įull hard drive: To compensate for low short-term memory, your computer is forced to store things on the hard drive. Why is my Mac running slow? It could be due to: