How to Fix a Slow Mac

Mac users are often left behind when it comes to optimizing their computer and getting the best performance possible. One of the reasons for this is because the majority of optimization guides cater to Windows computers. However, you are in the right place if you are looking for optimizations tips for your Mac. Users who are wondering how to fix a slow Mac can follow the instructions and steps below to try and free up some memory, disk space, CPU resources and to improve the overall performance of their system.

Identify and Close Heavy Applications

Every application running in the background consumes some resources, but some apps tend to be much hungrier than others. For example, leaving your Web browser running in the background may not seem like a major issue, but it can easily take up to 3-4 gigabytes of RAM, depending on the number of active tabs. This may cause performance issues in games, heavy software, or even media player. To identify and close such heavy apps you should:

  1. Go to Finder -> Utilities -> Activity Monitor.
  2. Select View -> Windows Processes.
  3. Check both the CPU and Memory tabs to see which apps are taking a lot of resources.
  4. Close any apps that you do not need to use at the moment – messengers, torrent clients, Web browsers, media editors, etc.

Clear the Mac RAM Cache

Windows users often resort to 3rd-party software to help them free up some Random Access Memory (RAM.) Thankfully, macOS users do not need to resort to such tools because this feature is integrated in modern macOS versions. To free up RAM, you need to:

  1. Go to Finder -> Utilities -> Terminal.
  2. Enter the command 'sudo purge'.
  3. Confirm your password, and wait a few seconds for the task to finish.

Update your Mac and Software

New updates are not only meant to introduce great features – they also address previous optimization and performance issues. You should always apply the available updates for your macOS operating system, as well as for any software you use.

Improve Startup Times by Disabling Apps from Starting Automatically

By default, your macOS may try to load a long list of applications whenever you sign in to your profile. Needless to say, many of these apps might not be needed at all, and all they do is to hog resources and cause your Mac to be slower than usual. Here's how to manage the 'Login Items' on your Mac:

  1. Go to System Preferences -> User & Groups -> Login Items.
  2. This shows a list of all programs that start automatically – select the ones you do not wish to use, and then click the 'minus' icon underneath the list.
  3. You may be prompted to enter your administrator password to make these changes.

Run an Anti-Malware Tool

MacOS is not immune to malware attacks or issues caused by low-level threats. Having any suspicious software working on your device may result in all sorts of annoyances and performance issues. You should keep your system protected by an antivirus app at all times, and you should also perform regular scans to check for intruders.

April 13, 2021
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