Why Is My Mac So Slow?

When it comes to Mac computers speed and proficiency are the expected performance. When you have a Mac running slow it can be very frustrating. It may not be a normal occurrence and happens sometimes to slow down and become annoying to operate. 

There could be many reasons why your computer has slowed down, though there are a few common ones we will discuss and give solutions that should hopefully help.

10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Mac Is Running Slow

Your Mac will one day break. It's a superb piece of technology, but it's not perfect. Over time you will note it slowing down, unresponsive programs, and longer loading time becoming more often than not. 

Below are 10 tips to help you fix some of these common issues and get your machine running at top speed again.

1. Hard drive getting full

An overloaded drive is the fastest way to slow down your Mac. if you can make space in your computer that will greatly help. Though, this is a painstaking journey that can be a bit difficult as it will require you to delete old files and folders. The tricky part is when it comes to clearing your entire system safely.

This is when you use tools such as CleanMyMac X. It's an innovative program that knows what is to be cleaned and where it is found. This makes your work easy and safer when making space to help fasten your computer.

2. Too many programs running in the background

Yes, your Mac computer has a faster processor than your average computer. That, however, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have limits. Having too many programs open and running in the background will slow down any kind of computer.

Access your computer's activity monitor to see all the programs open and currently running in the background. Close all the programs you are not actively using at the moment. This will have an immediately noticeable effect especially if the number of programs open were very many.

3. Overheating Mac

A Mac computer like any other machine runs the risk of overheating especially after being continually used for long periods. CPU-heavy processes are the main culprit most of the time for overheating computers. 

A quick fix is to close your browser tabs and bookmark what you need to first. These open tabs tend to take up your RAM and CPU resources. Quitting the Apps that are consuming a lot of the CPU helps reduce the heat on your Mac.

4. RAM running low

Random Access Memory is your computer’s fuel. If the RAM is running low then that means your computer will work slowly, just like a car that the gas is about to finish it slows down. One fast solution is to upgrade your RAM capacity.

If you use an app like CleanMyMac X it has the option to free up ram and that is a quick way for you to get your computer running faster.

5. Too Many unused programs

Your Mac could be slowing down due to low storage issues. investigate and look for programs that you haven’t used in a long while or no longer use. Unused apps waste a lot of necessary space. Freeing your computer of these apps and programs by uninstalling them will have your computer lighter and work faster.

6. Visual Overload

High-quality graphics and animations require a lot of RAM meaning if you have a few graphics-heavy programs such as games running on your Mac computer it will slow down significantly. The best option here is to run one program at a time or not more than two. 

Also, increasing your RAM will help especially if it is a program you’re using often. You should disable items such as magnification.

7. Malware on your Mac

A slow-running MAC is a strong indicator of a malware infection on the computer. Malware programs maliciously run programs in the background and consume a significant amount of resources.

The good thing is that there are anti-virus and malware programs that easily and quickly solve this issue.

8. Failing Mac hardware

A Mac running slow is at times an indicator of its age. The physical parts are starting to show their age and are wearing out. Computer components do not last forever and when they wear down it affects the overall performance. 

In most cases, it's the hard drive or SSD that wears off first. The quick and effective fix is to replace the parts that are faulty to improve the computer's performance.

9. Mac too old to support new software

Once again the age of the computer affects its performance. The sad reality is that the older your computer gets the more outdated its parts and software become. It reaches a point where your version of the computer is not supported by the company on some software and hardware aspects. This means some upgrades and the latest software will become too big or heavy for the RAM and tech support.

Your computer will be slow simply because it cannot handle advanced programs. If you are determined you can replace your computer's hard drive for an upgrade of systems that can handle the latest software.

10. Apps Storing too many log and cache files

When your Mac is on, some applications also start at login. These login items can make your computer slow and sluggish, particularly when several apps are doing it simultaneously. Just like any other app running on your computer, it is taking up resources.

It is important to check the apps that have permissions logged in automatically even in the background.

Parting Thoughts

So, you now have an idea of why your Mac computer has been slow and sluggish. If you are keen you will note that most of the reasons and solutions come down to giving your computer a break. Yes, it is a machine, though, that doesn’t mean it has endless potential and power. 

Keep checking and running diagnostics to ensure that your machine has what it needs and to remove the unnecessary things that could slow it down or harm its performance such as malware. Be patient with your machine and treat it with care for it to serve you well for a long time.