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My Mac Is Running Slow! 10 Ways to Speed It up

If you’re an Apple lover, you should have an idea of how reliable and durable Apple products are. However, as time passes, even the most well-built products can start to experience problems. 

By doing a little Mac maintenance, you can help get things back to normal. But what if you don’t know what maintenance to do, or how to speed up your Mac?

If you don’t want to say, “My Mac is running slow!” anymore, then keep reading for a guide that’ll help you get things back to how they should be. 

1. Close Apps You Aren’t Using

If you’re coming to macOS from Windows, you’ll soon realize that the way you exit out of apps is different. Although pressing the red button in the top left-hand corner may be enough to exit out of programs on a PC, it doesn’t work like that on a Mac.

Pressing the red close button keeps the app running in the background. The more programs you have running, the slower your system will be. Make sure to exit out of them completely by clicking the app name, then selecting “Quit”. You can also press Command + Q. 

2. Limit the Use of Resource-Hogging Apps

Do you enjoy playing video games, graphic design, or putting together different video clips? If you do, understand that these programs are using a lot of memory. Open up Spotlight by pressing Command + Space, then type “Activity Monitor” to see how much each app uses. 

If you need a certain program for work, then you don’t have a choice when it comes to using it. Just be aware of when you have it running. Restarting your computer afterward can also be a good idea. 

3. Don’t Have 20 Internet Tabs Open 

You have one tab open that has an email you’re sending, another with a recipe you’re looking up, another with… well, before you know it, you have 20 tabs open. Using an internet browser in this way isn’t only bad for your focus, it’s bad for your computer, as well.

You can also try clearing your internet cache to speed things up. Check out this guide to learn how to clear cache on your Mac. 

4. Scan for Viruses 

There’s a misconception that Macs can’t get viruses. Although it’s true that in the past, hackers wrote most viruses for PCs, that has since changed. In fact, in recent years, the number of threats facing Mac users has surpassed the number facing PC users.

Make sure your computer has a good anti-virus program, and that you scan your computer regularly. Malware can cause slowdowns and create many other problems. 

5. Cut Down on Flashy Effects

You know those animations you see when you open or exit an app? They may seem simple, but those effects can cause slowdowns, especially for older systems. Consider disabling them to save memory.

Navigate to your Mac’s System Preferences, or press Command + Space and open it from there. Go to the Dock section, and under “Minimize Windows Using”, choose Scale Effect. You should also deselect “Animate Opening Applications”. 

6. Free up Disk Space

A lack of disk space can be a major cause of slowdowns. To see how much storage space you have left, click the Apple in the lefthand corner of the screen, then click About This Mac. Once that opens, head to the Storage section.

If you’re running out of space, consider different ways to free up some room. Deleting old files and unused applications, moving files to an external hard drive, and taking advantage of a cloud-based storage system can all be good solutions. 

7. Empty Your Trash

After you finish deleting old files, you might think that your work is done. However, you also need to remember to delete the files from your trash can, as they can take up space in there, as well.

To delete them, right-click on your Trash Can, and click Empty Trash. You can also press Command + Shift + Delete. 

8. Check for Software Updates

You know that notification you always exit out of, the one telling you that there’s a new system update for you to install? Next time, instead of closing it, consider finally getting around to installing it.

With each update, Apple releases fixes that tighten security, boost performance, and optimize your experience. All of these things can speed up your Mac, so make sure to install the updates. 

9. Try a Factory Reset

If simple fixes aren’t doing the trick, you might need to bring your computer back to its factory settings. This will give it a fresh new start and can help solve many slowdown related problems. 

Keep in mind that resetting your Mac will delete all of your files. Make sure to first back everything up on an external hard drive, or use iCloud

10. Get a New Computer 

At the end of the day, you can only try so many tips and tricks before you need to face the inevitable. If you’ve tried all of these tips to no avail, it might be time to upgrade to a new computer. 

If your computer is several years old, research different models to buy. Remember that Apple releases upgraded models each year, so make sure that you buy the newest one. 

“My Mac Is Running Slow!” Follow These Tips to Never Say That Again 

If you’re tired of telling people, “My Mac is running slow!” then it’s time for you to find a solution. By trying out the ten tips mentioned in this guide, you’ll be able to identify and solve the problem that’s causing slowdowns, no matter what it is. 

Do you now have a better idea of how to speed up your Mac? If you do, make sure to take a look at some of our other blog posts to read more guides and tips. 

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