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How to Speed Up Your Mac When It Starts Feeling Slow

September 18, 2026 Nicole Jones

Clean up Mac

With the passage of time, Macs, like any other devices, seem slower. One of the reasons is the accumulation of multiple folders, applications, and background processes. As time passes, you might start to observe opening of apps taking longer to open, files loading slowly, or simply a delay while performing basic tasks. Yet, this does not necessarily imply that your computer should be changed. In most situations, doing a few cleanups and adjusting a couple of settings can help your computer operate better if it is a little bit slow. If you’re curious about how to speed up your Mac, then this post will offer some tips for how to free up space, decrease unwanted processes and keep your computer working smoothly.

Why Your Mac is Running Slow
6 Effective Ways to Speed Up Your Mac
FAQs on Boosting Mac Speed

Why Your Mac is Running Slow

A Mac may run slow due to multiple daily reasons. Too many files, for example, occupy space and, because of this, leave less room for the system to breathe, while background apps keep running, which in turn takes away memory and processing power. Launch programs at startup, old macOS versions, browser caches, and visual effects also put a strain on the system. Sometimes your Mac only needs a good clean instead of being upgraded hardware-wise. Understanding what processes or items are using up most of your Mac's resources enables you to determine which methods would bring the improvement in performance you'd want from your Mac.

6 Effective Ways to Speed Up Your Mac

Unfortunately, there's no universal solution for your slow computer. Sometimes, it's an issue with the storage drive, whereas other times, you have to blame your apps running in the background, software that's too old or system clutter. So that you know beforehand, here is a short description of the six methods to go about this:

Optimization Method	Impact Level	Manual vs Automatic	Target Area
1. Clean Up Disk Space with Aiseesoft Mac Cleaner	High	Automatic	Junk files and storage
2. Disable Heavy Startup Programs	Medium	Manual	Startup apps
3. Close Memory-Hogging Processes	High	Manual	RAM and background processes
4. Update macOS	Medium	Manual	System software
5. Clear Browser Caches and System Logs	Medium	Manual	Temporary files
6. Reduce Visual Effects and Desktop Clutter	Low–Medium	Manual	Graphics and desktop resources

Out of the several alternatives available, Aiseesoft Mac Cleaner stands out as the best option for getting rid of the slowdown that typically comes with collecting old files and other junk. Its main advantage is that it enables users to perform a lot of the cleaning up tasks right from that single application without needing different tools for each task.

1. Clean Up Disk Space Automatically with Aiseesoft Mac Cleaner

Best For: People who wish there were an easier way to remove unwanted files and make use of their Mac storage without digging deep into folders manually.

If your Mac has started being slow because of so many junk files and unnecessary items that have been kept, Aiseesoft Mac Cleaner offers you a simpler way to clean them off your Mac. It allows you to scan and find system files, large and old files, duplicated files, and unwanted apps, freeing up storage space while you do everything that you normally do on your computer.

Main Features

Cleans up your system by locating and disposing of unnecessary files and debris.
Enables you to detect files that have grown quite big and are taking up your storage space.
Highlights those files that are exact copies of one another. You might not need both of them anymore.
Helps delete unwanted software plus all your files.
Displays vital information about your device such as memory usage and storage.

Free DownloadFor Windows

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Steps to Clean Up Your Mac

Step 1.

Run Aiseesoft Mac Cleaner and launch the program. Choose the Status tab if you want to see the current status of your Mac system.

Step 2.

Select Cleaner and click System Junk. Click Scan and let the software find the files.

Step 3.

Click Views to see the scanning results.

Step 4.

Select the files that you would like to delete and click Clean. Go back to the Cleaner tab and look for Large & Old Files to free up more space.

Step 5.

See the listed items and clean the ones that you think are not needed. Run your Mac again to find out if the system feels smoother and more responsive.

How to speed up my Mac? I'd start with this method when storage clutter is one of the main things slowing the system down.

2. Disable Heavy Startup Programs in System Settings

Best For: Macs that are slow to boot or, after logging in, that are really slow.

Too many startup apps can seriously hamper system performance, and it will feel sluggish from the very beginning. By uninstalling those few apps that you never need at startup, you let your Mac get set up for the day more quickly, and at the same time, more resources of the Mac can be allocated to the apps that you are really working with. Currently, Apple has control of all these functions under Login Items & Extensions.

Step 1.

Select the Apple menu. Choose System Settings and select General in the left toolbar.

Step 2.

Select Login Items & Extensions. Under Open at Login, browse the list of applications that open when you log in.

Step 3.

Choose an application you do not need starting every time you start up your computer. Select the Remove (-) button.

Step 4.

Review the App Background Activity section and disable background activity for applications that you do not intend to run unless directly occupied when you are directly working with them.

Step 5.

Reboot your Mac and test if startup is any quicker.

If you want to know how to speed up a Mac computer, this is a very simple change to try as a first step before you go on to more serious cleanup.

3. Close Memory-Hogging Background Processes via Activity Monitor

Best For: Users who suffer from slow performance due to having a lot of memory-hungry apps running or an overload of processes all at the same time.

On the other hand, having so many demanding apps open on your Mac at the same time, they will use so much of your Mac's memory. As a result, your Mac will run out of memory that will be left for your actual programs. Activity Monitor helps you determine which ones are using up the most memory and close the ones that you don't need. Apple also says that you should check the Memory Pressure graph to see how well or poorly RAM is managed by your Mac.

Step 1.

Use the combination of the Command and Space keys to bring up Spotlight.

Step 2.

Type in Activity Monitor and then hit the Return key.

Step 3.

Look at the tabs and click on Memory. Click on the Memory column to get a sorted list of processes based on memory usage.

Step 4.

Look for applications that were once opened but are now idle/unused. Click on an undesirable app/process.

Step 5.

Go back to the Activity Monitor window and select the Stop (x) at the top.

Step 6.

Select Quit initially. If the process still does not quit, change to Force Quit.

Step 7.

Review the Memory Pressure chart below to get an idea of how the changes have affected memory usage.

Important Note: Don't force-quit a system process you don't recognize. Some essential processes that ensure macOS is running smoothly get terminated and can mess with other apps/system functions if you force-quit them.

This guide is helpful mainly if you want to know how to speed up Mac performance, which is one of the most frequent questions when a computer runs slower, and memory-intensive programs have become one of the factors that have slowed down your Mac.

4. Update macOS to the Latest Version

Best For: Macs experiencing slow performance, compatibility problems, or issues after installing newer apps.

A macOS version that is out of date can sometimes result in issues with performance or even application compatibility issues. Updating to the latest version of macOS can provide bug fixes, security enhancements, as well as stability improvements. Apple suggests that you keep your Mac up-to-date by running the most current version of the OS that is compatible with your hardware.

Step 1.

Click on the Apple menu placed at the top-left corner. Choose System Settings from the menu.

Step 2.

Locate the General link in the sidebar and then click on it. In my account, choose Software Updates. Please hold on as your Mac looks for updates.

Step 3.

For any updates, click Update Now, Upgrade Now, or Restart Now as applicable. If prompted, please log in using your administrator password.

Step 4.

Allow the installation to complete without shutting down or closing your Mac. The Mac will reboot in the process without notice.

Step 5.

After updating, see if your Mac seems more snappy.

How do I make a slow Mac faster? Simply regularly update your system!

5. Clear Browser Caches and System Logs

Best For: Those who have Macs that have gotten a pile of browser temporary data or those who were in a tight corner due to too little storage.

You'll probably have your browser cache and other temporary system files filled with garbage that can take up a lot of space on your Mac. It may be that getting rid of your Mac cache that is not needed will free up some space for you, whereas macOS has built-in features for managing most system caches and logs automatically.

Clear browser cache:

Step 1.

Start up the browser you normally work with, for example, Safari or Chrome. Locate and open the Settings or Preferences.

Step 2.

Locate the Advanced tab. Make sure Show features for Web Developer is enabled by checking the box.

Step 3.

Close the settings window. Click the menu bar above the screen and select Develop.

Step 4.

Choose Empty Caches. There is another way of clearing the cache in Safari on Mac with just a keyboard shortcut. Launch Safari, then hold down the Option key, simultaneously press the Command key, and finally tap on E.

Review system storage

Step 1.

To capture your whole screen, click the Apple menu. Navigate to System Settings > General > Storage.

Step 2.

See if any categories are occupying a large amount of disk space. Review what comes next. Large files, applications, downloads, and other unnecessary items. Remove any unusable files.

Step 3.

Empty the Trash to actually free the existing storage space.

This would be an elementary cleanup measure, most of all if your storage has been loaded with data.

6. Reduce Visual Effects and Desktop Clutter

Best For: Older Macs or computers that have trouble with responsiveness, like when you click or switch windows, when you open a new app, or when you just navigate the system.

You can imagine how extra visual effects combined with a desktop full of file icons add extra work that your Mac has to do. A real problem if you are running an old or slow computer. You can make a real difference and increase speed by simply reducing animations, not only on the desktop. It won't solve all your issues, but it will definitely lead the way.

Reduce visual effects

Step 1.

Go to the Apple menu and click on System Settings.

Step 2.

Click on Accessibility in the left panel and look for Display.

Step 3.

Enable Reduce motion. If this option is available, also enable Reduce transparency.

Step 4.

After you've toggled on the features, quit System Settings and go back to using your Mac as usual.

Reduce desktop clutter

Step 1.

Have a look at the pile of documents and folders you left on the desktop. Delete everything you don't need anymore.

Step 2.

Put important files you don't delete straight into the appropriate Finder folders. Whenever possible, avoid putting large downloads, movies, etc. on your desktop.

Step 3.

To keep your laptop clean and free from any viruses, you have to be careful not to keep the files you deleted for too long. So, after the confirmation stage, the trash should be emptied.

FAQs on Boosting Mac Speed

Can I connect a portable drive to get more Mac storage?

Sure, transferring large files like videos, photos, or even your personal library to an external drive is a practical way of creating space for other files on your internal Mac drive.

Is constant uptime of Mac a good or bad habit?

Naturally, there is no need to switch off your computer each time you're done with it. Still, sometimes it is helpful to restart the system if you encounter problems that are quite strange and are hindering the operation of apps, because through a restart you can close all the running processes and start fresh.

Will a drive with bad sectors affect a Mac?

Of course, yes. If your hard disk is faulty, it may be the reason for your Mac's sluggishness or some strange behaviors. In fact, after you've done all the normal stuff and cleaned up the files, there is always Disk Utility, which you can employ to look for disk issues.

Conclusion

At times, a slow-performing Mac needn't necessarily involve replacing parts with upgraded ones. In fact, basic cleaning, turning off background activities, software updates, and optimizing storage management could really boost the performance of the machine. How to speed up my Mac? It’s quite simple; it’s better to check out solutions for those areas that tend to be slow.