Why is My Mac So Slow? Here Are 5 Easy Fixes You Can Do Right Now
As I was sitting in front of my computer, brainstorming blog topics that might resonate with you all, I noticed something mildly infuriating—my Mac was dragging its feet, hesitating a good four to five seconds before responding to any action. This wasn’t just a minor annoyance; it was enough to disrupt my flow and make me wonder what was going wrong. After a quick glance at my iCloud, which showed plenty of free space since I’d upgraded to a 2TB plan, I figured I might as well do some quick troubleshooting. Why not make it into a helpful guide? So, if your Mac has started to lag like mine, here’s a friendly guide to help you get it back on track.
Low Storage
One of the most common culprits behind a sluggish MacBook is low storage. As someone who does a lot of graphic design, my downloads folder is constantly filling up with new photos and video clips. And yes, I’m guilty of hoarding data—like files from a client I haven’t worked with in four years. Take a moment to sift through your downloads folder and clear out anything you no longer need. If the clutter’s really piling up, consider an iCloud storage upgrade.
Background Apps
Over time, it’s normal for our Macs to accumulate apps, some of which end up running quietly in the background or—even worse—might be malicious. Start by checking out what’s installed: open your Finder, hit ‘Applications’ in the sidebar, and scroll through the list. Uninstall anything you don’t use or don’t remember installing.
Closing Apps Properly
Here’s a quick tip most overlook—many of us don’t shut down apps properly. Simply closing the window doesn’t quit the app; it still runs in the background, munching on your Mac’s resources. To fully exit, press ‘Command + Q’. Not sure if the app’s closed? Pop open the ‘Activity Monitor’ to see what’s still active.
Hidden Login Items
If your Mac is sluggish on startup, it might be due to apps that automatically run on boot. Search ‘Login Items’ to see a list of these apps. Here, you can manage permissions, allowing only essential apps like Zoom or Spotify to run in the background.
Don’t Put Off Software Updates
Lastly, don’t ignore those software update prompts. My Mac kept nudging me to install macOS Sonoma 14.5, and I kept putting it off—don’t make my mistake. If there’s an update waiting, and your Mac is slow, it’s time to bite the bullet and click update.
Running through this checklist not only cleared my doubts but significantly sped up my Mac. Hopefully, these steps can do the same for you.
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