Tips to Improve Mac Performance

  1. Restart Your Mac Regularly: Sometimes a simple restart can resolve performance issues by clearing out system memory and closing background processes.
  2. Update macOS and Apps: Make sure your operating system and all your applications are up to date. Go to System Preferences > Software Update to check for macOS updates. Update apps through the App Store.
  3. Reduce Startup Programs: Limit the number of apps that open at startup. Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups, select your user account, then the Login Items tab. Remove unnecessary items from the list.
  4. Close Unnecessary Apps: Keep an eye on the apps you have open and close those you’re not using. Right-click on the app icon in the Dock and select Quit.
  5. Clean Up Disk Space: Free up disk space by deleting files you don’t need. Use the Optimize Storage feature under About This Mac > Storage > Manage to help with this.
  6. Clear Cache Files: Over time, cache files can take up significant space. You can clear these using tools like CleanMyMac or manually by navigating to ~/Library/Caches and deleting unnecessary files.
  7. Manage Extensions and Plugins: Disable browser extensions and other plugins that you don’t need. In Safari, go to Preferences > Extensions. For other browsers, refer to their specific settings.
  8. Optimize System Preferences: Adjust visual effects to improve performance. Go to System Preferences > Dock and uncheck Animate opening applications and Automatically hide and show the Dock.
  9. Check Activity Monitor: Use Activity Monitor (found in Applications > Utilities) to see what’s using up your system resources. If an app is consuming too much CPU or memory, consider quitting or uninstalling it.
  10. Add More RAM: If you’re using memory-intensive applications, adding more RAM can significantly improve performance. Note that some newer Macs have soldered RAM that can’t be upgraded.
  11. Upgrade to an SSD: If you’re using an older Mac with a traditional hard drive, upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD) can provide a substantial performance boost.
  12. Reset SMC and PRAM/NVRAM: Occasionally, resetting the SMC (System Management Controller) and PRAM/NVRAM can help with performance issues. Instructions can be found on Apple’s support site.