One of the main characteristics of Apple devices , both desktop and mobile and laptop , is the great optimization of their applications, meaning they do not require a large amount of RAM to run smoothly.
However, as with any computer, situations may arise where, due to storage limitations, your Mac runs slowly and sluggishly, spoiling the user experience.
Since this is a fairly common problem among Mac users, this article provides explanations, causes, and solutions to this issue, so you can use macOS with all the fluidity it's known for.
Why is my iMac slow?
Thanks to the great fluidity that application optimization provides to your Mac, there are not many reasons why its operation may be slowed down.
They can be easily summarized in a handful of options:
- It has not restarted: By not restarting your Mac, it accumulates a large number of background processes, including open applications and system processes, which significantly reduce the operating system's speed.
- Too many open applications: If you use a large number of applications while working and leave them running in the background, your Mac's RAM will become saturated, slowing down its performance.
- Hard drive full: The number of files stored on the hard drive can play an important role in the operation of the Mac, since when there are too many files stored, the computer's operation becomes slow and inefficient.
- OS obsolete: When it's been a while since you last updated your macOS version, it's normal to notice malfunctions and a loss of fluidity when navigating within the system. This is because the OS doesn't have the latest maintenance scripts, which causes its functions to slow down.
- Low RAM: RAM is essential for the smooth operation of your Mac, so you should download and install applications that are compatible with your RAM capacity to get the most out of them.
Learn how to optimize the performance of your iMac
For situations where your Mac is running very slowly , freezing, or experiencing significant performance issues, we present a detailed list of solutions you can apply to get your Mac working properly again.
Let's look at the following:
Clear startup applications
Startup applications are those programmed to launch automatically every time you turn on your Mac. They activate immediately and are ready to use whenever you want. However, these applications consume a considerable amount of resources, which can affect your Mac's performance. For this reason, it's a good idea to manage which applications launch at startup , so you only have the ones you actually use.
To do this, follow these steps:
- follow the route “Apple Menu > System Preferences > Users & Groups”.
- Enter the tab “Login elements”Here you will see a list detailing the applications configured to start at boot time.
- hold down the key "CMD" and click on the applications you want to remove from the list to select them simultaneously
- Click in the symbol “-“, located at the bottom of the list.
This procedure will remove the applications from the startup list, so they will not start automatically when you restart your computer.
Disable unnecessary access and functions
Specifically, we're talking about the Universal Access, Bluetooth, Talk, and Internet Sharing features . These features are enabled by default and, together, use a considerable amount of RAM , so disabling unused features should significantly improve your Mac's performance.
To do this, follow this process:
- follow the route “Apple Menu > System Preferences”.
- Locate the enabled functions in the list you will see in this section, and disable the ones you are not using.
While in many cases these functions can be quite useful, many Apple users have no use for them, so they just remain active and consume system resources until they are manually disabled.
Clean the accessories
System Preferences extensions on a Mac are installed when you add a new program or application and are removed when the application is uninstalled, although this doesn't always happen. Occasionally, when you move an application to the Trash, the extension may remain in System Preferences, and when enough of these extensions accumulate, they can start to affect your Mac's performance.
To avoid this, you must remove all unnecessary system preference add-ons using the following procedure:
- Uninstall the application that you want to delete by dragging it to the Mac trash.
- follow the route “Apple Menu > System Preferences” to make sure the app add-on has been removed.
- If that is not the case, Right-click on the add-on you want to delete and select the option “Remove from preferential sales.”
If "System Preferences" has more than one application add-on that you've removed, just repeat the process until the unnecessary add-ons are gone.
Check what kind of applications you use
This is a slightly more technical aspect of Mac computers that can affect their performance. It involves verifying the architecture of your applications to ensure they are the most efficient.
The idea is to ensure you're using Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps instead of PowerPC apps. This is because the latter run on the Rosetta translator , which is very resource-intensive and can negatively impact your Mac's performance. To check the app type, simply right-click on it, select "Get Info," and review the class under "General." This section is usually located at the bottom right of the screen.
Remove the languages you don't use
One of Apple 's main concerns is making its products accessible to as many people as possible worldwide, which is why it includes a large number of languages in its products. However, it's unlikely that users will use any language other than their own , so removing the remaining languages is a good idea to free up some storage space.
macOS does not give its users the option to remove unused languages, so we will need an external application called Monolingual, which will allow us to delete all those languages as follows:
- Get Monolingual below and install it on your Mac.
Download Monolingual for MacOS
- Run monolingual
- Choose the eyelash "Languages"
- Check the boxes of the unnecessary languages you wish to remove
- Click on the button "Remove"
Monolingual works very simply; however, it should be used with caution because, in addition to languages, it has a window called "Architecture" that allows you to view your operating system's architecture files and gives you the option to delete them. This should not be done under any circumstances, because deleting the architecture will require you to reinstall macOS from scratch.
Don't let it get hot
Regular use of Mac computers and laptops can cause overheating , which can lead to decreased performance and slowdown of operating system functions.
Therefore, you should make sure to monitor your Mac's operating temperature by following these tips:
- Make sure that the software is up to date
- Use your Mac in environments with a temperature less than 35 °C and greater than 10 °C. Avoid using it in places with condensation.
- Use it on a surface that does not impede ventilation. Avoid cushions, beds, or sheets
- Use authorized adapters of your Mac
Remove widgets you don't use
Starting with Mac OS X 10.4, you can use a wide variety of widgets on your dashboard . While some can make using your Mac easier, most won't serve a specific purpose. These latter widgets should be disabled, as they consume resources even when hidden.
To remove widgets from your Mac, follow these steps:
- Click on the top right of the desktop, where the date and time are located
- Choose the option “Edit widgets”, on the bottom
- Select the widget what do you want delete and click the button “-“, located in the upper right.
You can repeat this procedure as many times as necessary to remove all the widgets you don't plan to use, until you are left with only the ones that will be useful to you.
Check the activity monitor
This is a built-in application in macOS that allows you to monitor the applications running on your computer, both those you're actively using and those running in the background. With this data, you can see which apps are consuming the most resources, allowing you to decide whether to delete them or replace them with more efficient ones.
To access the activity monitor, simply follow these steps:
- Enter to "Launchpad”
- Go into the folder "Others" and select the activity monitor
- Drag it to the Dock to keep it easily accessible
- Click about him “Activity Monitor” icon in the dock to access application usage data and CPU performance.
Clear your hard drive
Regardless of the size of your hard drive , it will eventually fill up, and when that happens, it will start causing performance issues for your operating system. Keeping your hard drive clear helps Mac OS X run more smoothly, as it uses it continuously for virtual memory.
To keep your hard drive clear, follow these tips:
- Empty the bin of Mac
- Delete the programs that you don't use
- Back up to an external storage medium important files and data
- Make sure to keep free at least 20% of the total hard drive memory.
Delete temporary files
While it is very useful to have these files up to a certain point, there comes a time when their size begins to cause problems in the operating system , so it will be necessary to delete them to restore its functionality.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Opens application "Finder" and go to the menu
- Choose the option “Go to folder” and introduces “ ~/Library/Caches” in the dialog
- Select the files from the Cache folder. You can do it by pressing “CMD + A”
- Once all the files are selected, Take them to the trash can located at the dock
Optimize your desktop
Everything on your computer takes up hard drive space and RAM , including desktop icons. Therefore, a cluttered desktop will negatively impact your Mac's performance. To avoid this, simply clear your desktop , and you'll notice a slight increase in computer speed. Once you've cleared your desktop, restart your computer.
Use maintenance scripts
These are Apple's own scripts that perform maintenance tasks within macOS . These scripts run automatically on a regular basis to correct errors, but they can also be manually activated using external applications. In this case, one of the best options is CleanMyMac X, which has a built-in maintenance function.
To activate these scripts, follow the steps described below:
- Download and run CleanMyMac X
- Go to the sidebar and select "Maintenance"
- Choose the option “Run maintenance scripts”
disable visual effects
Visual effects add a great deal of appeal to your desktop ; however, they consume resources that significantly reduce your Mac's performance.
If you wish to avoid this, simply follow these instructions:
- follow the route “Apple Menu > System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar”
- Remove the check mark from the box “Animated app opening” y “Hide and show the Dock automatically”
- Enter the section “Minimize windows using” and changes the effect that is activated by “Scale effect”
Have a stable internet connection
While your internet connection doesn't have a significant impact on your computer, it can reduce your productivity if it's not stable enough . Internet outages can affect the performance of applications that require a connection, as well as cause interruptions when accessing websites, watching videos, and downloading files, among other actions. Make sure your Mac is connected to a stable network . Depending on the model, a wired connection may work better than Wi-Fi.
Delete unused apps
Some Mac applications can take up a considerable amount of space, so you should make sure you have the applications you use in order to keep your computer running in optimal condition.
To remove unnecessary apps, follow this procedure:
- Opens Finder
- Go to "Applications"
- Select the app what do you want delete
- Press “CMD + Delete”
- Open the trash and select the option "Empty", in the upper right corner
Best apps to improve Mac performance
Within its extensive repertoire of applications, macOS has a few extremely useful apps for cleaning junk files and optimizing the operating system , allowing you to speed up the performance of your Mac.
Here are five apps you can use:
Onyx
It's a very popular cleaning tool among Mac users, boasting a large number of downloads and uses. Its main feature is the ability to centralize and make Mac software maintenance much more accessible, since the operating system already includes certain cleaning functions. It's a reliable and secure application that provides a clean and straightforward interface, eliminating the need to use complex commands to perform cleaning actions.
Download Onyx for macOS
CleanMyMac X
It's one of the most popular cleaning applications for Mac, offering over 40 tools to help you resolve common operating system problems and optimize performance. You can manage storage space and applications, as well as locate junk files and malware in all folders.
Coconut Battery 3
CoconutBattery is a fairly simple application designed for Mac laptops, focusing more on battery performance than storage . It's an excellent solution when you feel your Mac's battery life is shorter than usual. Occasionally, Mac battery capacity decreases over time, and you can use CoconutBattery 3 to detect this performance decline.
Download CoconutBattery 3 for MacOS
Sensei
Sensei Monitor is a performance tool designed to evaluate and improve your Mac's performance. It features a simple yet attractive interface and powerful tools. Designed and optimized to work on almost any version of macOS, it takes up very little storage space.
Download Sensei for macOS
MemoryKeeper
This program boasts a visually appealing interface and a function to select between two cleaning modes: Quick or Full. It also includes a feature to adjust the maximum amount of memory you wish to free up. It's highly recommended to ensure this doesn't exceed 10% of the total installed memory.
