Just upgraded to macOS 10.14 Mojave on your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro? And was shocked when it runs really slow?
Well, a slowed-down MacBook (or any other slow tech) isn’t something you want to put up with. More than that, recent research has shown that this slowed device not only drags down your productivity and makes you waste precious time – but it’s also a cause of extreme aggravation and constant stress. This means – IT’S BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH!
Can you suggest any ways to make my MacBook run faster?
Is it possible to tune up a Mac? Yes, there are many different ways one can do this.
However, many of these apps are either ineffective or just a waste of time. That’s why we made this guide so you can sift through the good ones and pick out only those that will work best for you.
1. Clean up MacBook Disk
A clutter-free Mac is so much better than one that’s dirty. A number of new features have been added to Apple’s operating system called Mojave. It costs money but the price isn’t steep. More resources are needed to keep it running smoothly, which includes more storage space for now. A decent amount of disk space will also improve your Mac’s performance and ability to stay responsive when you’re using it.
Cluttered Macs are worse than clean ones. A new operating system for macs, MacOS Mojave, has been released with many great features – all of which are free! However, in order to make it run at its best, more system resources are needed including more available storage space; reducing the likelihood of crashing and improving general performance.
Additionally, space-wasters like unnecessary files, duplicates, apps, and games can eat up valuable hard drive space without you even knowing it. You can check what’s taking up the most space on your computer by opening Finder. From there you can see all of the items using storage; including but not limited to documents, pictures and music. Additionally, you can manually delete unwanted items from this menu too! If you want to make sure that you don’t have any duplicate or similar files (especially when it comes to photos) – consider downloading an app called Gemini which does just that!
Power users can also handle these manual maintenance tasks themselves; however, it will take more time. Clear your Downloads folder and Trash first. For example, when buying movies online, there will always be the Standard Version and the HD version; while one may only take up half as much storage space as the other for an average 2 hours movie.
When it comes to freeing up more space on your Mac, there are various ways in which you can do so. One of them being deleting old iOS device backups that you no longer need – as these often come built-in with each new update. Every time you back up an iPhone or iPad through iTunes, the previous backup is backed up too- never to be overwritten unless the system gets corrupted or something goes wrong during the process. So if you’re looking for a cleaner storage unit without any clutter taking up room, make sure to delete those old backups first before making new ones!
2. Remove Adware (and Malware)
While macOS Mojave enhances the user’s protection against traditional malware, such as viruses, adware and spyware can still catch you. These types of malware are downloaded from third-party websites. To prevent these malicious programs from making your machine vulnerable to attacks, Bitdefender AntiVirus for Mac scans the system and eliminates any traces of such malignant content – so that you can use your device without fear of being hacked.
There are various ways to avoid problems with viruses or spyware after downloading them onto your computer. Here are some good practices: disable Java in browsers, update software through the Mac App Store, disable Adobe Flash and Acrobat Reader from automatically being loaded on Safari, always be aware of what you’ve downloaded onto your computer – trust no one!
3. Reset SMC and NVRAM
The SMC (System Management Controller) has an extensive list of functions, such as power management and keyboard backlighting. It also controls fan control among other things. If there are performance issues due to an issue with the SMC, then restarting it might solve the problem entirely! From taking care of Wi-Fi speed to fixing hardware problems – you don’t need to look any further than this article for all your needs!
Non-volatile Random Access Memory, or NVRAM, includes important information about what is running on your Mac device such as startup disk configuration, screen resolution and time zone. You might need to reset the NVRAM if you notice any typical Mac problems such as sound problems, resolution problems, or slow startup times. To do this simply press (not hold) Command-Option-P-R keys while powering it off then back on again while still holding these three keys down until all of its lights turn back on.
- First, remove all external devices (such as USB drive, memory card, etc.).
- Shut down your Mac and power it back on.
- When you hear the power on sound, hold the keys Command-Option-P-R.
- After hearing the startup sound again, check your system preferences for Date & Time, Display and Start Up Disk.
Make sure to refer to this official guide from Apple if you encounter any difficulties resetting the NVRA.
4. Run The Right macOS Version
Installing mac OS updates can be annoying because it takes quite a long time and has to shut down the computer, but not installing them is not advisable either. For instance, The latest MacOS Mojave update provides stability, performance, and security improvements; Apple recommends updating for all users (especially if you are running an old operating system). However – when updating your MacBook – know that you might not need to do so if you’re happy with what is working for you now.
If you are using a fairly new Mac computer (with enough RAM, fast flash storage, etc.), updating to the newest version of macOS – Mojave, would be worth it. If you’re still using an older model of Mac computers or if it is more than five years old, upgrading your operating system might not be the best idea because there may be hardware limitations which would result in slow speed and excessive crashing. As an example, Apple requires at least 2GB of memory and 12.5GB of storage space for macOS Mojave.
So, after updating your old Macbook to the latest software update, you might want to downgrade it back to a previous version of macOS. This article from Macworld has more information about how this process works.
Tip: make sure to backup everything before you upgrade or revert to another macOS version. Most recent updates are usually available in the Mac App Store.
5. SSD Upgrade
An SSD might be a good addition to a Macbook with a hard drive. By doing this, you will be able to speed up and quiet down your computer. Matt Johnston from BusinessInsider shared how he managed to upgrade his 2011 MacBook Pro using this trick. If you are unsure whether or not your Mac has an HDD or SSD, head over to Apple Menu > About this Mac > Storage for some answers.
It is important to contact Apple Support about any warranties if anything happens before upgrading. Once this is done, a person can start researching different SSDs. We recommend Crucial or Amazon based on price and disk size. Remember that options may vary when it comes to models of Mac computers so look into them as well if they are needed before buying an SSD.
These options are presented by Crucial in a straightforward manner. Afterwards, if you want to replace the hard drive yourself, you will need some small Torx wrenches. The whole process requires you to be incredibly cautious- especially when you unveil your laptop interior. Thankfully, there are many YouTube tutorials which can help you overcome the technical challenges you might face during this time- we found this one very helpful:
Note: You will also need to reinstall a fresh version of your macOS system after the SSD upgrade. We recommend you take your Mac to an Apple Store because those technicians can handle this for you – but it might cost extra money if you don’t have an extended warranty from them.
The bottom line is that SSD upgrades are worth the money if you need a more powerful system for running programs. Though an SSD may not be cheap, it remains a viable option when weighing up whether or not to buy a whole new laptop.
6. Add More Memory (RAM)
By upgrading my MacBook Pro with an SSD, I’ve seen a drastic improvement in my computer’s speed. But even then – there’s still one way to make it go faster. A simple upgrade of the random access memory (RAM) will always have excellent benefits for those who use their laptop frequently while they’re multiplaying games or editing videos or photos because this additional RAM allows the computer to respond much quicker to app requests without slowing down at all.
Most MacBooks come installed with at least 4 GB of RAM, but it is possible to upgrade the memory if you so choose.
Important – It is not possible to add extra RAM on MacBook Airs or Retina MacBook Pros. If your Macbook is eligible for an upgrade, you need to know how much it can handle and what type of memory it supports before ordering anything. This information can be found by going to Apple Menu -> About this Mac -> Memory.
Installing RAM is easy enough to do, although you may need to remove the bottom cover of your laptop first. Here’s a brief overview of what you’ll need and how to get started. For an even more detailed explanation, check out this article from CNET.
7. Adjust Using Habits
Well, we all know that sometimes it’s not your Mac’s fault when it runs slow. It can also be because the user is doing something wrong. A lot of people store a bunch of files on their Desktop which makes the computer take longer to start up- especially if you’ve been using the computer for months and haven’t shut it down since then. Sometimes people open too many programs at once or just enable lots of cool features; either way, this will make the computer slow down too.
So, you get the gist of it – establishing good user habits will increase your Mac’s lifespan and keep it running smoothly without many slowdowns. Generally, you can try the following:
- Keep your Desktop clean by saving files into fewer folders.
- Less-multitasking, close applications you aren’t using.
- Reduce the number of applications that auto run on startup.
- Shut down or restart your Mac, instead of folding it because even when it goes to sleep, the hard drive still runs.
- Back everything up regularly and remove unnecessary files.
- Don’t forget to periodically delete unused apps, clean out junk and empty Mac trash.
- Make sure to check your macOS system when new updates are available instead of ignoring the notifications.
Conclusion
Your MacBook may be running slower or freezing more often than it used to – there are many different potential explanations for this problem, but they usually fall into three major categories: hardware, software, and user habits. If you’re wondering where to start with figuring out what’s causing your Macbook problems, then just take a look at the handy guide below!
Though there are many other means to make a Mac quicker, these 7 tips will likely yield the best results. Various methods may work better for different purposes and even with different models of Macs – it really depends on what type of problem you’re trying to solve.
