What slows down a Mac and how to fix it

A Mac slows down when your hard drive fills up, too many programs run at startup, or your browser collects years of cached files and cookies. The fastest fixes are closing unused browser tabs, restarting your computer, and checking how much storage space remains. Most slowdowns come from one of these three causes, and you can test each one in under five minutes.

Before you do anything else, restart your Mac. Hold the power button for ten seconds, wait for the shutdown, then press the power button again to turn it back on. This clears temporary files from memory and stops background processes that have been running since your last restart. Many speed problems vanish after a restart alone.

Key Takeaways

  • Restart your Mac first — this alone fixes most temporary slowdowns by clearing memory and stopping stuck background processes.
  • Check your available storage by clicking the Apple menu, selecting About This Mac, then Storage — if you have less than 10 percent free space, your Mac will run slowly.
  • Close browser tabs and clear your browser cache in Safari or Chrome, since web browsers consume the most RAM on most Macs.
  • Open Activity Monitor (in Applications > Utilities) to see which programs are using the most CPU and memory, then quit the ones you are not using.
  • Disable startup programs by going to System Settings > General > Login Items and removing apps you do not need to open when your Mac starts.

Check how much storage space you have left

A Mac that is more than 90 percent full will slow down noticeably because the operating system needs free space to write temporary files. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner, select About This Mac, then click the Storage tab. You will see a colored bar showing how much space is used and how much is free.

If the free space is less than 10 percent of your total drive size, you need to delete files. Start by emptying the Trash — right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and select Empty Trash. Then move large files you do not use often (old videos, archived photos, or old project folders) to an external drive or cloud storage like iCloud Drive or Google Drive.

If you are still short on space, open Finder, click Applications, and look for programs you no longer use. Drag them to the Trash. Uninstalling unused software frees up space and also reduces the number of programs running in the background.

Close browser tabs and clear your cache

Your web browser is usually the biggest drain on your Mac's memory. If you have 50 tabs open across multiple windows, your browser is using gigabytes of RAM. Close tabs you are not actively reading — you can always open them again later.

Next, clear your browser's cache and cookies. In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, click Privacy, then click Manage Website Data. Select all and click Remove. In Chrome, click Chrome in the menu bar, select Settings, click Privacy and Security, select Clear Browsing Data, choose All Time, and click Clear Data.

Clearing your cache removes temporary files that websites store on your Mac. This frees up storage space and can speed up browsing because your browser will not have to load years of accumulated data. Do this once a month to keep your browser running smoothly.

Use Activity Monitor to find programs using too much power

Activity Monitor shows you exactly which programs are using your Mac's CPU and memory right now. Open Finder, click Applications, then Utilities, then double-click Activity Monitor. Click the CPU tab to see which programs are using the most processing power.

Look for programs using more than 50 percent CPU that you are not actively using. If you see something unfamiliar using high CPU, search for its name online to understand what it does. If it is a program you do not need, click it and click the X button to quit it.

Click the Memory tab to see which programs are using the most RAM. Safari, Chrome, and Electron-based apps (like Slack, Discord, or VS Code) typically use the most memory. If you see a program using more than 2 gigabytes of RAM that you are not using, quit it. Quitting a single memory-heavy program can make your Mac noticeably faster.

Turn off startup programs

Every program you add to your startup list runs automatically when you turn on your Mac, which slows down your startup time and uses memory even if you are not using the program. Open System Settings (the gear icon), click General, then click Login Items. You will see a list of programs that open when your Mac starts.

Remove programs you do not need to open every time you start your Mac. For example, if you only use Slack during work hours, remove it from startup. If you rarely use a cloud storage app, remove it. Keep only the programs you use every single day.

Removing startup programs does not uninstall them — you can still open them manually whenever you want. This change takes effect the next time you restart your Mac.

Update macOS and your applications

Apple releases updates to macOS that include performance improvements and bug fixes. Click the Apple menu, select System Settings, click General, then click Software Update. If an update is available, click Update Now. Your Mac will restart during the update, so save your work first.

Also update your applications. Open the App Store, click Updates in the bottom right, and install any available updates. Developers release updates that fix bugs and improve speed. Running old versions of applications can slow down your Mac because they may not work efficiently with your current version of macOS.

Disable visual effects and animations

macOS includes animations when you open windows, minimize programs, and switch between apps. These animations look nice but use processing power. If your Mac is older or has limited memory, disabling them can make your Mac feel faster.

Open System Settings, click Accessibility, click Display, then toggle off Reduce motion. This disables many of the animations that slow down older Macs. The change takes effect when ready — you will notice windows open and close faster.

This step helps most on Macs from 2015 or earlier. Newer Macs with more memory and faster processors will not notice much difference, but it is worth trying if your Mac still feels slow after the other steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I restart my Mac?

Restart your Mac at least once a week, or whenever it starts to feel slow. A restart clears memory and stops background processes that accumulate over time. If your Mac is slow every day, restart it daily until you find and fix the underlying cause.

Is it safe to delete files from my Downloads folder?

Yes. Your Downloads folder often contains old installers and files you no longer need. Open Finder, click Downloads, and delete anything you have not used in the past month. This frees up storage space and does not affect your Mac's performance unless the files are very large.

Will upgrading my RAM make my Mac faster?

Only if your Mac is using almost all of its available memory. Open Activity Monitor, click the Memory tab, and look at the number next to Memory Used. If it is consistently above 80 percent of your total RAM, upgrading will help. If it is below 80 percent, the slowdown is caused by something else.

What is the difference between storage space and RAM?

Storage space is where your files live permanently — it is like a filing cabinet. RAM is temporary memory your Mac uses while programs are running — it is like your desk. A full filing cabinet (storage) and a cluttered desk (RAM) both slow down your Mac, but for different reasons.

Can I speed up my Mac without restarting it?

Yes. Close unused browser tabs, quit programs you are not using, and clear your browser cache. These steps free up RAM without restarting. However, a restart clears more temporary files and is faster than manually closing everything, so restart if you have time.