Published 2022-04-10 by TechNet New England
A slow Mac is frustrating, especially when you rely on it for daily work. Before blaming the hardware, try these fixes. ## Step 1: Restart macOS accumulates cached data, background processes, and memory fragmentation over time. Restarting clears all of it. Click the **Apple menu > Restart**. Do not just close the lid and reopen it. That puts the Mac to sleep, which does not clear memory. ## Step 2: Check Activity Monitor Activity Monitor is the Mac equivalent of Task Manager. 1. Open **Activity Monitor** (search in Spotlight with Command + Space, or find it in Applications > Utilities). 2. Click the **CPU** tab and sort by **% CPU** to see what is consuming processing power. 3. Click the **Memory** tab and check **Memory Pressure** at the bottom. If the graph is green, memory is fine. If it is yellow or red, you are running low on RAM. 4. Click the **Disk** tab to check for excessive disk activity. If a specific application is consistently using high CPU or memory, try quitting and reopening it. If it happens regularly, the app may need to be updated or replaced. ## Step 3: Close Unused Applications Unlike Windows, macOS keeps applications "running" even when you close their windows. The red close button closes the window, not the application. Check the Dock for applications with a dot underneath them. These are running. Right-click and select **Quit** for any you are not actively using. ## Step 4: Check Storage macOS needs free space for virtual memory, caching, and system operations. 1. Click **Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage**. 2. If less than 10 to 15% of your drive is free, performance will suffer. 3. Follow the steps in our guide on freeing up storage on Mac. ## Step 5: Reduce Login Items Applications that launch at startup consume resources before you even start working. 1. Open **System Settings > General > Login Items**. 2. Review the list under **Open at Login**. 3. Select items you do not need at startup and click the minus button to remove them. Also check **Allow in the Background** on the same page. Disable background items you do not need. ## Step 6: Update macOS Apple regularly releases updates that fix performance bugs and improve system efficiency. 1. Click **Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update**. 2. Install any available updates. ## Step 7: Reset SMC and NVRAM (Intel Macs Only) For Intel-based Macs that are sluggish: **Reset SMC:** 1. Shut down the Mac. 2. Hold **Shift + Control + Option** and the **Power button** for 10 seconds. 3. Release all keys, then press the Power button to turn on. **Reset NVRAM:** 1. Shut down the Mac. 2. Turn it on and immediately hold **Option + Command + P + R** for 20 seconds. 3. Release and let the Mac boot normally. Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4) do not have a user-accessible SMC or NVRAM reset. Restarting handles this automatically. ## Step 8: Check for Hardware Issues **RAM:** Macs with 8 GB of RAM can feel slow when running multiple applications, especially with Chrome. If Activity Monitor consistently shows memory pressure in yellow or red, the Mac may need more RAM (if upgradeable) or replacement with a model that has more memory. **SSD health:** SSDs can degrade over time. If your Mac is several years old and performance has gradually worsened despite all other fixes, the SSD may be failing. Your IT provider can check SSD health using diagnostic tools. **Thermal throttling:** If the Mac runs hot and the fans spin loudly, it may be thermal throttling (reducing speed to prevent overheating). This can be caused by dust buildup, a failing fan, or running in a hot environment. Cleaning the vents and ensuring good airflow helps. ## When to Contact IT If the Mac is managed by your organization, contact IT before making significant changes. They can run hardware diagnostics, check for MDM-related issues, and recommend whether repair or replacement is the right path.