10 Simple Tips to Speed Up a Slow Mac

MacBooks can run slower than usual due to insufficient storage, too many background processes, and outdated software. Quick fixes like closing resource-intensive apps and clearing caches can be helpful, but comprehensive solutions are often needed.

1. Update macOS

Software updates bring bug fixes, patches, and performance improvements that can speed up your Mac. Apple releases new macOS versions annually, so ensure your system is running the latest version to benefit from all performance enhancements.

To update macOS, click the Apple icon in the menu bar and go to System Preferences > General > Software Update. Remember to back up your Mac beforehand in case of any issues.

If a newer macOS version is available, you'll see an Upgrade Now or Update Now button. Click it, and the download process will begin. After some time, your Mac will restart and proceed with the installation.

2. Free Up Storage Space

When your storage drive reaches maximum capacity, performance can rapidly decline. Large files can have a more significant negative impact on your Mac's speed than smaller ones. Ideally, keep at least 10 to 20% of your disk space free.

To check available disk space, click the Apple menu and go to About This Mac > More Info. Then scroll down to Storage.

If storage is nearly full, review guides on how to free up space on your Mac. Additionally, consider moving your photo and music libraries to an external drive or backing them up using cloud providers, as they can occupy a significant amount of space.

See more: 8 Ways to Free Up Disk Space on Your Mac

3. Disable Startup Items

Startup items can significantly slow down your Mac and delay the proper boot process. Review the list of startup items and remove any apps that might slow down your Mac. To do this:

• Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups.
• Select Login Items & Extensions.
• Turn off items you don't want to load at startup.

4. Remove Unnecessary Widgets

Having numerous widgets running in the background can also slow down your Mac. To remove some of these widgets:

• Open Notification Center by clicking the date or time in the upper-right corner of the screen.
• Find the widget you no longer want and hold Control while clicking on it to open the contextual menu.
• Select Remove Widget.

5. Rebuild Spotlight Index

If Spotlight isn't returning results as expected or is notably slow, rebuilding the Spotlight index can help. Follow these steps:

• Go to System Preferences > Spotlight > Search Results.
• Click the plus sign (+) and choose the drive or folder you want to re-index.
• Confirm that you want to (temporarily) exclude these from Spotlight.
• Choose the same drive or folder and click the minus sign (-) to remove them again.

This will force Spotlight to rebuild the index for that drive or folder, making Spotlight searches smoother. This process may take some time, so be patient if Spotlight initially struggles.

6. Turn Off Fancy Visual Effects

The subtle visual effects of macOS can impact its performance more than you might think. To disable these:

• Go to System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver.
• Turn off "Animate opening applications."
• Set "Minimize windows using" to "Scale Effect."

Then, adjust display settings by following these steps:

• Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display.
• Enable "Reduce Transparency."

7. Avoid Syncing Too Much Cloud Data Simultaneously

Syncing large folders to the cloud using services like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox can sometimes slow down your system. Therefore, regularly review which files and folders are being uploaded to ensure you're not sending too much data at once.

You can review and adjust which data is backed up to iCloud by going to System Preferences > [Your Name] > iCloud.

To manage which folders sync with other cloud storage providers, typically you need to go to the settings of the app you're using (such as Dropbox or Google Drive). Try to avoid syncing folders that change frequently.

8. Set Default Finder Folder

Every time you open Finder, it loads a default folder. If this is a large folder, it might take longer than expected. Instead, change this folder to a smaller, less-demanding one for faster Finder loading:

• Open Finder.
• Go to the menu bar and click Finder > Preferences.
• In the General tab, under "New Finder windows show," select a new default folder.

9. Remove Browser Add-Ons

Since much of everyone's computer work nowadays happens in a browser, a slow browser can easily be mistaken for a slow Mac. The easiest fix here is to remove unnecessary and cumbersome browser add-ons or extensions from any browser you use.

Follow detailed instructions to remove browser add-ons to speed up your browser and Mac. 

See more: How to Remove Add-ons in Chrome, Firefox, and Other Browsers

10. Keep Apps Updated

Outdated software not optimized for the latest macOS version can make your Mac run slower than it should. Therefore, keeping apps on your computer up to date is always worthwhile.

To do this, visit the App Store > Updates. If any app updates are available, you'll see them listed here. Click to update each app individually or select "Update All" in the upper-right corner to install all available updates at once.

With these simple tricks, you should notice a significant improvement in your Mac's speed. However, if your machine still doesn't perform adequately, consider reinstalling macOS to see if that resolves the issue. If not, it may be time to upgrade to a new Mac.